Triathlon World Cup for KZN town
30 April 2007
World champions Tim Don of Britain and Emma Snowsill of Australia will be among a host of international stars looking to secure world ranking points and lucrative prize money when the Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup takes place in the City of uMhlathuze on 13 May.
It's the second consecutive year the African leg of the BG Triathlon World Cup series will be held in Richards Bay following the awarding of the hosting rights to the local organisers on a three-year basis. It will be preceded by the All-Africa Sprint Triathlon Championships on the same course on 12 May.
The course
The 1.5 kilometre swimming leg of the Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup will take place in a protected saltwater bay over a two-lap course, following which the participants will take on the challenging 40 kilometre cycle course over eight laps.
The 10 kilometre running leg will be held over a flat route, making for an exciting,
speedy finish.
Competitors
Australian Commonwealth champion Brad Kahlefeldt will return to the KwaZulu-Natal coastal town to defend his men's title, while SA stars in Hendrik de Villiers and Erhard Wolfaardt will be on a mission to hold SA's name high in the international arena.
With Commonwealth champion Snowsill expected to battle it out with the likes of Portuguese star Vanessa Fernandes for the women's honours, local fans will be out to cheer on Kate Roberts and Mari Rabie in their quest for a high-placed finish.
Eighty-five international athletes will participate in the men's and women's races respectively, gaining entry according to the world rankings.
Money and rankings points
The winners will collect US$12 500 and 50 world ranking points each, with the runners-up taking home $10 000 and 44 points each. The third-placed athletes will receive $7 500 and 39 points.
The All-Africa Sprint
Triathlon Championships is expected to attract athletes from Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Namibia and Egypt and will be contested over a 750 metre swim, a 20 kilometre cycle and five-kilometre run.
Triathlon SA President Gideon Sam said: "Triathlon SA is proud to host a weekend of action-packed international sports action in the form of the Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup and the All-Africa Sprint Triathlon Championships.
"I trust that the performances achieved by the athletes will serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes in our country as we look to grow the sport of triathlon to new levels under the Triathlon SA banner."
A major coup
Denny Moffatt, the Mayor of the City of uMhlathuze, described the hosting of the triathlon action in the city as a major coup for sport and recreation in the area.
"We trust that the sports-crazy people of our wonderful city will come out in great numbers to support this weekend of
international triathlon action, and that many of the athletes will go on to become household names and role models to our young sportsmen and sportswomen.
"The events should also be a major boost to the local economy from a transport, accommodation and tourism perspective, and we look forward to welcoming some of the world finest triathletes, and spectators from all corners of the globe, to our wonderful city, known for its warm hospitality," he added.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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