All of the world’s top 10 male triathletes and eight of the top ten females in the sport have entered the inaugural ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi.
The event is set to be the highest calibre triathlon staged in the Middle East and will take place on the shores of the UAE capital on March 7.
Over 2,000 people of all ages and abilities are expected to race alongside the world’s greatest athletes on one of the sport’s most spectacular course layouts.
On the men’s side, 2014 ITU World Triathlon Series Champion, Javier Gomez, is looking to start his season on a winning note in Abu Dhabi
“I am delighted to finally be coming down to the UAE to compete in the first ITU race of the year,” said the Spaniard. ”This race will boast the world’s top triathletes — it’s going to be super competitive and I’m going all in to win. I am also competing in a half distance race the weekend before so I hope I am not too tired.”
With four ITU World Championships under his belt Gomez, 31, will be a force to be reckoned with next month and will not be resting on his laurels.
“I’d definitely like to get off on the right foot at the first race of the ITU World Triathlon Series because that just sets the mood for the rest of the year,” he added.
Gomez’s greatest rivals, Britain’s Olympic Gold and Bronze medallists from London 2012, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, make a return to Abu Dhabi.
The Brownlees will be competing for top honours on the world-class course and hoping to continue their recent success in the UAE where Alistair has twice previously finished first in the Short Course race at the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon 2013 and 2014.
“Racing in Abu Dhabi is tough but it’s always an amazing experience and it gets more enjoyable every year. The first race of the year is always important for everyone and it will be interesting to see who is in the best shape and can make the best start to the new season,” said the Yorkshire-born star who, like his brother, will be targeting Olympic qualification this year.
On the women’s side, eight of the top 10, including reigning World Champion Gwen Jorgensen, have thrown their hats into the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi ring. The 28-year-old American is eager to make an impactful debut in Abu Dhabi. “This will be my first time racing in the UAE,” she said. “I am sure it will be a fantastic experience. I’m looking forward to the first race of the year.”
In 2014 Jorgensen was the first woman in the history of the ITU World Triathlon Series to win four consecutive races and the American will be looking to continue that winning streak in 2015.
To encourage aspiring junior triathletes to take part, the organisers of the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi have introduced a new event — The Aquathlon — which takes place on March 6 and features distances suitable for children from the age of three to 17. This new junior event features three distances: the ‘Tiny Triathlete’ — a 50m swim and a 100m run, the ‘Junior’ distance featuring a 200m swim and a 1.5km run, and the ‘Super Sprint’which consists of a 375m swim and a 2.5km run.
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LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Old Slave and the Mastiff
Patrick Chamoiseau
Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale
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