ITU World Triathlon Series speeds up with Hamburg sprint and ITU Mixed Relay World Championships
In its fifth year on the World Triathlon Series calendar, Hamburg will again serve up double the dose of action with fast and furious sprint elite races on Saturday followed by the Mixed Relay World Championships on Sunday. Add on that it’s the world’s biggest triathlon dropped in the middle of downtown Hamburg, and it’s a recipe for one mega multisport weekend.
The key players in both the men’s and women’s elite races have come to collect precious WTS points, as only two races remain ahead of the Edmonton Grand Final. Gwen Jorgensen (USA), Helen Jenkins (GBR) and Jodie Stimpson (GBR) will headline the women’s race, while the men’s race will feature a deep field including Javier Gomez (ESP), Mario Mola (ESP), Jonathan Brownlee (GBR), Alistair Brownlee (GBR) and Richard Murray (RSA).
On Sunday, 20 nations will vie for the right to call themselves the fastest in the world at the Mixed Relay World Championships. Germany will attempt to defend its title on home soil, while the Brits look to regain the crown they gave up after back to back wins in 2011 & 2012.
About the race:
Hamburg is the longest-standing venue on the ITU World Triathlon Series calendar, having
hosted events since 2002, including the 2007 World Championships, but featured a twist the last
years with a fast and furious sprint race. Not only is Hamburg the oldest event on the WTS
schedule, it hosts the world’s largest age-group triathlon with more than 10,000 athletes
having raced last year. For the second consecutive year, it will also host the Mixed Relay World Championships.
SCHEDULE:
Elite Women – Saturday 12 July – 16:15
Elite Men - Saturday 12 July – 18:15
Mixed Relay Championships – Sunday 13 July – 16:35
WEBSITE:
http://hamburg.triathlon.org/
LIVE COVERAGE:
Live video coverage be available on race day at triathlon.org/tv or at @triathlonlive
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY:
$150,000 USD (equal for men & women)
$70,000 USD – Mixed Relay
COURSE PROFILE:
SPRINT DISTANCE -
Swim (750m) – Off a pontoon, athletes dive into an artificial lake within the city limits of Hamburg for a 2-lap swim. After the first lap there is a short landing with a 180-degree turn on land.
Bike (20km) – Athletes will bike four laps of a 5km loop on a flat, technical course that includes eight sharp turns around downtown Hamburg.
Run (5km) – Off the bike, athletes will run two laps of a 2.5km loop on a flat course. There are two 180-degree turns per lap.
MIXED RELAY -
Each country will be allowed to enter two relays of four athletes (two men and two women). The teams will compete in the order of female-male-female-male. After each athlete finishes his or her swim-bike-run segment, he or she will tag the next athlete in the relay to make the exchange.
Swim (300m) – The swim start is at “Kleine Alster”. There is one lap to swim. The turning point is directly behind the bridge Reesendammbrücke. Therefore athletes have to swum though the tunnel twice. Swim exit is at “Kleine Alster” too.
Bike (6.6km) – Generally flat profile with no noteworthy climbs. There are two laps of 3.3km to ride; in total 6600m. The route is technically demanding, due to many changes of direction and tight turns.
Run (1.6km) – Generally flat course. There are two laps to run, with one 180° turns per lap.
FAST FACTS:
- Javier Gomez has started in WTS races in Hamburg four times, for 1 win, 1 silver, 1 bronze & a 6th place.
- Only seven men on the start list have ever won a WTS race – Gomez, the Brownlees, Silva, Murray, Mola & Stefen Justus. - Alistair Brownlee currently holds the record for most WTS wins in a single season at 5. Gomez can equal it at Hamburg.
- For the women, currently Emma Moffatt holds the record for most WTS wins in a season with four. Jorgensen could equal that record at Hamburg.
- Previous Hamburg winners toeing the start line include Lisa Norden, Moffy and Erin Densham.
- Hamburg marks Densham’s first ITU race in 2014 and first WTS race since 2012, as the Olympic bronze medallist makes her return from injury.
- This is the fifth MixedRelay World Championships. Previous winners include Germany (2013), Great Britain (2012, 2011) and Switzerland (2010, 2009).
- Other teams that have made the podium include USA, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and France.
- There are 285 different athletes to have started a Mixed Relay World Champs up to this point
- 17 different athletes have won a gold in Mixed Relay
PREVIOUS HAMBURG WINNERS
ITU World Triathlon Series Winners
Elite Women Elite Men
2013 Anne Haug (GER) Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
2012 Erin Densham (AUS) Richard Murray (RSA)
2011 Emma Moffatt (AUS) Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS)
2010 Lisa Norden (SWE) Javier Gomez (ESP)
2009 Emma Moffatt (AUS) Jarrod Shoemaker (USA)
ITU World Cup Winners
Elite Women Elite Men
2008 Ricarda Lisk (GER) Daniel Unger (GER)
2006 Vanessa Fernandes (POR) Javier Gomez (ESP)
2005 Samantha Warriner (NZL) Filip Ospaly (CZE)
2004 Anja Dittmer (GER) Rasmus Henning (DEN)
2003 Anja Dittmer (GER) Andrew Johns (GBR)
2002 Jill Savege (CAN) Greg Bennett (USA)
ITU World Championship Winners
Elite Women Elite Men
2007 Vanessa Fernandes (POR) Daniel Unger (GER)
ITU Mixed Relay World Championship Winners
2013 Germany
2012 Great Britain
2011 Great Britain
2010 Switzerland
2009 Switzerland
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