From Triathlon Canada.

Four of Canada’s best triathletes swam, bike and ran their way to a bittersweet fifth-place finish at the Mixed Relay World Championships in Hamburg, Germany on Sunday.

The first major international test since being welcomed to the Olympic lineup didn’t disappoint on a wet and rainy day at the largest triathlon in the world that takes athletes down the streets of the old trading city lined by more than 100,000 fans before ending in front of the historic setting of Hamburg City Hall.

Amelie Kretz (Blainville, Que.), Tyler Mislawchuk (Oak Bluff, Man.), Joanna Brown (Carp, Ont.) and Alexis Lepage (Gatineau, Que.) were running away with a World Championship medal in what shaped up to be a two-team battle for gold with the Americans in the anchor leg following a monster swim from Lepage which propelled the Canadians into top spot heading home.

But the 23 year old’s luck quickly turned for the worse when he crashed on the bike after his back wheel slid out from him in the first lap on the slick downtown streets of Hamburg.

Losing valuable time on the Americans at the front, Lepage gained his composure and got back onto his bike, but not before opening the door for Australia, Great Britain and the Netherlands to get back in the race, setting up a five-team hunt for the medals out of transition two.

Lepage dug deep to keep the Canadians in the mix until the final kilometre of the race. When all was said and done, the Canadians were forced to settle for fifth spot with a time of 1:23:04 – just 17 seconds off the podium.

“It was a good performance today, but I’m a bit sad. We had the podium. I know we can be there and run with the best. I know I could have done more, but I guess unexpected stuff like this happens,” said Lepage, whose bike arrived in Germany just before the race. “When I got back on my bike I tried to stay positive, bike as fast as I could to get back to the American but I had to save some energy.

“In the first 500 metres on the run I was confident I could sprint for the podium, but realized I had destroyed my legs trying to get back into it on the bike and didn’t have the running legs. Unfortunately the podium didn’t happen today, but it is still a fifth place and the team did a great job and should be very happy.”

The Australian team were crowned mixed relay World Champions with a time of 1:22:38. The Americans snagged the silver at 1:22:42, while the team from The Netherlands won the race for the bronze with a time of 1:22:47.

The two young Olympians on the Canadian squad – Amelie Kretz and Tyler Mislawchuk – set the tone for the red and white. Both building back their fitness after injuries following the 2016 Games, the 24-year-old Kretz put the Canadians in 13th place after the opening leg before Mislawchuk put down a steady effort, picking off the best names in the triathlon world in all three disciplines. Mislawchuk, 22, tagged off to Joanna Brown in sixth spot, 15 seconds back of the leaders.

The 24-year-old Brown, who has enjoyed a breakout season with two World Cup podiums this year, maintained her position on the swim before tackling the hairpin turns and slick streets like a machine on the bike, moving into third before second transition. Brown grabbed one more spot on the run before her day was done, sending Lepage diving into the Alster River in second place.

“It was really fun and a hard day. Yes there may be a bit of disappointment because for a while we thought we were going to be top-two, but we have to be really proud to have finished fifth. This is a good result for a really young team and demonstrates our potential,” said Brown, who leaned on her experience racing mixed relay formats last year while competing in the major league triathlon series.

“The race would have been different if Alexis didn’t crash because those two guys would have stayed away. It may be a bit frustrating but everyone gave it everything we had and I am just so proud of how we handled ourselves as a team.

“Our team learned so much today – especially how much hurt you have to put yourself in to come out with the result you want. We are still building as a team and we are only going to get stronger. This is an exciting day for Canadian triathlon.”

Canada’s best finished at a Mixed Team World Championships came in 2009 when the team led by Simon Whitfield won the bronze in Des Moines, Iowa. This is the best finish for the nation since the event was moved to Hamburg.

Canada will host the next two World Triathlon Series races in Edmonton, July 28-29 followed by Montreal August 5-6.

Complete Results: http://bit.ly/2uoJIrT

Top-Five Mixed Relay World Championship Results:

1. Australia, 1:22:38; 2. United States, 1:22:42; 3. Netherlands, 1:22:47; 4. Great Britain, 1:22:52; 5. Canada, 1:23:04

Proud of @TriathlonCanada teammates efforts today.A crash on the bike set us back a little bit.Ended up 5th in the World Championships pic.twitter.com/XFK7qTjSJ2

— Tyler Mislawchuk (@Mislawchuk) July 16, 2017

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Canada’s Jackson Laundry and Kristen Marchant both earned podium finishes at the prestigious Olympic-distance non-drafting New York City Triathlon over the weekend.

Had a good #race today finishing 3rd @nyctriathlon behind @jasonwesttri and @camdyetri . Raced alone in second for a long time until Jason caught me with 2km to go. Congrats on great races. Great race @loeweng finishing 8th and @kmarchant91 on 3rd! #raceday #olytri #podium #champagneshowers

A post shared by Jackson Laundry (@jacksonlaundrytri) on Jul 16, 2017 at 8:38am PDT

New York City Triathlon always draws an impressive pro field thanks to its world-class venue, strong prize purse and the fact that it is one of few Olympic non-drafting events in the North America. Both Laundry and Marchant have demonstrated their skill at this event in the past, both achieving notable results at the St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Laundry finished just over a minute behind winner Cameron Dye, a regular contender in Olympic non-drafting events. He clocked 12:11 for the swim, 57:42 for the bike and 32:49 for the run.

Marchant surprised herself with a career-best sub-two hour finish, breaking down as 12:19 for the swim, 1:05:32 for the bike and 36:11 for the swim. Women’s winner Lauren Goss, also a regular contender in these types of races, finished in 1:56:54.

Full results are available here.

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Ironman Mont-Tremblant

A 23-year-old man who was on a training ride in preparation for Ironman Mont-Tremblant is dead after colliding with a vehicle Saturday morning during a training ride. The athlete, from nearby Morin-Heights, violently hit the back of an SUV that was slowing down on Chemin Duplessis to allow other vehicles to pass according to La Presse.

The cyclist was brought to the hospital in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts in critical condition before being transferred to Saint-Jérôme where he passed away Saturday night.

According to police officer Alexandre Boucher, no criminal charges will be forthcoming. The collision between the cyclist and the vehicle with Massachusetts licenses plates was deemed an accident.

Ironman Mont-Tremblant will take place on August 20, 2017. The event attracts over 2,500 athletes to the course around the Laurentian town.

Story originally from Canadian Cycling Magazine.

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— By Luke Yates

Ironman 70.3 Calgary is a Canadian favourite but draws athletes from all over to its stunning location right on the edge of the Rockies in Western Alberta. It has been rated as one of the most scenic courses in the world and this year’s event has sold out, with thousands of athletes arriving to tackle this challenging but fast event. With the help of 2014 winner and course record holder, Rachel McBride, here are five top tips for a great race this weekend.

Don’t get lost in the lake

The swim is a one-loop course in Auburn Bay Lake in southern Calgary, but it doesn’t follow a standard rectangular route like most races. In 2015, the leading female pro, Magali Tisseyre, was among a number of athletes disqualified for accidentally swimming the wrong course. If possible, get down there and check out the course, and at the very least have a good look at the map and video on the event website.

The low morning sun could also add to the issue.

“If it happens to be a cloudless day, sighting will also be a challenge with the sunrise! Grab some mirrored goggles for the best view.” says McBride.

You’ll go down before you go up

The bike course an 86.1-km mostly out-and-back route.

The bike course elevation profile shows a gradual downhill for the first half, with a few sharp hills, but the second half is almost all uphill.

The course also reaches nearly 1400 m in altitude. This isn’t crazy, but if you are used to training at sea-level, it’s definitely worth bearing this in mind before you really hammer the last 45 km on the bike.

The run course is beautiful

The run is an out-and-back course through gorgeous forests and along the Elbow River. Make sure to use the the scenery as inspiration when the going gets tough, and enjoy the course as best you can. It is generally flat, although there are two steep, little climbs to tackle. The second of these comes in the last quarter of the run.

Make the most of Alberta

Ironman 70.3 Calgary and Western Alberta in general have so much to offer, so really try to enjoy your visit. The pro start list is packed with strong athletes so spectators should be sure to watch out for some amazing performances as they wait for their loved ones.

After the race, the mountains are just a short drive away, with Canmore and Banff less than two hours up the road. There are plenty of accommodation options and both provide incredible opportunities to get out into the wild and find some outdoor adventures, or enjoy a little post-race relaxation.

The post Tips for a great race at this weekend’s Ironman 70.3 Calgary appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

From press release:

A star-studded group of elite triathletes representing all facets of the Triathlon Canada Nation will lead more than 1,000 Canadians to the start line in one month’s time at the first-ever Multisport World Championships in Penticton, B.C., August 18-27, 2017.

Canada will field the nation’s top professional athletes for the historic event that will crown World Champions in six of the International Triathlon Union’s premiere events – duathlon (sprint and standard distance), aquathlon, cross triathlon, long-course triathlon, and aquabike. All races include elite, under-23, junior, Para-triathlon, age group and open wave categories.

“The eyes of the triathlon world are going to be on Penticton, and Canada, for 10 days in August with more than 3,000 athletes representing 50 countries around the globe,” said Kim Van Bruggen, chief executive officer, Triathlon Canada. “Team Canada is on a mission for medals and will be well represented in this quest in all race categories with an impressive list of our top professional and National Team athletes, who have all won titles around the world, leading the way. Team Canada is ready to put on a show in this ground-breaking event that will have a massive impact on our sport.”

One dozen Canucks (six men and six women) will be focused on seeing the Canadian flag raised above the podium in the long distance event. One of the most successful Ironman athletes in the world over the last three years, Lionel Sanders of Windsor, Ont., will headline an impressive six-pack of Canadian men who have all medalled at long distance races internationally. Sanders will be joined by Trevor Wurtele (Kelowna, B.C.), Jeff Symonds (Penticton, B.C.), Cody Beals (Fergus, Ont.), Steven Kilshaw (Victoria, B.C), and Calgary’s Jordan Bryden.

Six powerful British Columbia women will be a force to reckon with in the long distance World Championship race. Six-time Ironman winner, Heather Wurtele of Kelowna, B.C., and bronze-medal winner at the 2013 Long Distance World Championships, Rachel McBride of Vancouver, will lead the charge for the red and white. They will be joined by Jen Annett (Penticton, B.C.), Karen Thibodeau (Victoria, B.C.), Melanie McQuaid (Victoria, B.C.), and Fawn Whiting (Vancouver, B.C.).

In the past, World Championship races for each discipline were held individually around the world. Canada was selected out of four bid cities to host to the inaugural event in Penticton, B.C. given its long history of hosting major international triathlon events.

“Our sport has evolved tremendously over the last decade and now boasts multiple race disciplines and formats,” said Van Bruggen. “Bringing all of these disciplines together in one single venue provides an opportunity to showcase this growth, generate additional excitement around these prestigious World Championship titles, but most importantly, give athletes the opportunity to compete in more than one championship race in the same year at the same venue.”

Two of those elite athletes taking advantage of being able to start in multiple races are Melanie McQuaid and Jordan Bryden who will also suit up in the cross triathlon race. McQuaid will be joined by four other Canadian women including: Annie Bergen (Kelowna, B.C.), Zoe Dawson (Squamish, B.C.), Katherine Carter (North Vancouver), and Katie Button (Sechelt, B.C.).

Bryden will be joined by Karsten Madsen (Guelph, Ont.), Jean-Philippe Thibodeau (Quebec City), Darren Smith (Victoria, B.C.) and Nathan Killam (Vancouver, B.C.) in men’s cross triathlon action.

Thibodeau and Killam will also represent Canada in the aquathlon with National Team athlete Matt Sharpe of Victoria, B.C. and John Rasmussen (Ancaster, Ont.).

Rasmussen is scheduled to also hit the start line with Edmonton’s Jesse Bauer in the Duathlon World Championship race.

The Multisport World Championships also gives many of Canada’s under-23 and junior athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic pathway additional international race experience close to home. Victoria’s Holly Henry will suit up in the junior division of the long distance and cross-triathlon races.

Desirae Ridenour, of Cowichan Bay, B.C., who won last weekend’s CAMTRI Junior North American Championships in Magog, Que., will compete in the aquathlon. Jackson Konkin, of Trail, B.C, who had a career-best eighth-place finish in Magog will also hit the start line for the aquathlon. Both athletes will also compete in the junior duathlon event. Paralypmic silver medallist, Stefan Daniel of Calgary, along with National Development Team member, Brennen Smith of Regina, will both compete in the under-23 division of the duathlon.

A team of 1,000 Canadians who share a passion to swim, bike and run, will discover what they are made of while toeing the line in age group racing for each of the World Championship disciplines.

Each of the competitions will start and finish in the heart of Penticton with the spectator-friendly courses featuring a variety of terrain that takes athletes past some of the Penticton’s many vistas, wineries and landmarks, as well as the downtown area, adding to the overall festival atmosphere.

“I truly believe, given their rich history with triathlon, there is no better place in the world to give the nod to hosting this prestigious inaugural event than Penticton,” added Van Bruggen. “The sport of triathlon has its roots deeply entrenched in North America with areas like Penticton leading the way in Canada. I know the organizers and volunteers are ready to put on an incredible event for all of the athletes as they welcome the world to Penticton in 30 days.”

For complete information on the 2017 Multisport World Championships Festival, please visit https://penticton2017.com/

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On Saturday I raced the Skechers MultiSport Canada Gravenhurst Olympic Distance Triathlon.  This race has been one I’ve wanted to do for a couple years and it didn’t disappoint.  It’s a unique swim that has you shuttled to the middle of the lake by steamship and you get to swim back to shore.  That’s followed by a challenging, but very fun bike course.  And the race finish with a run that you may believe gains elevation in both directions.  This race has shot up to the top of my list of favourite local races.  I had a strong race across all 3 splits and was happy to get my second win on the MultiSport Canada Series this year.

The post Daniel Clarke: Multisport Canada Gravenhurst Olympic triathlon race recap appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

Competitive Swimming

Many triathletes choose the lunch hour as an easy time slot to fit a quick workout in. Here are two of our favourite lunch hour swims you can easily fit into an hour with some adjustment to match your paces. One is an endurance focus while the other is speed-oriented. You can extend the warm-up and cool-down if you have some extra time to spare, but these workouts pack a lot into a short period of time so they’re great for when you’re time-pressed.

Speed (30 to 35 minutes)

Warm-up — 200m (repeat x 2)

• 1 x 50 swim
• 1 x 50 choice

Build up — 400m (repeat x 2)

• 4 x 50 swim (descending speed on :55, rest interval on :10)

Core — 600m

• 100 kick (hard effort on 2:00)
• 100 swim (hard effort on 1:50)
• 2 x 100 with paddles (on 1:45, rest interval on :10)
• 1 x 100 pull (on 1:40)
• 2 x 50 (on :50, rest on :10)

Cool down — 100m

• 100 swim easy

Endurance (35 to 45 min)

Warm-up — 100m

• 100 swim

Build up — 400m

• 3 x 100 swim, negative split (+/- on :55, rest interval on :15)
• 2 x 50 hard swim (on :45, rest interval on :15)

Core — 1000m

• 2 x 200/150/50 swim; progressive (3:35/2:25/:45, rest intervals on :20)
• 200 pull, even pace (1:55 per 100m)

Cool down — 100m

• 100 swim easy

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TMC contributor and pro triathlete Daniel Clarke shares footage and data from his ride at last year’s Toronto Triathlon Festival. For athletes racing this weekend, this video gives a good look at the course and shows you what you can expect.

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TMC contributor and pro triathlete Daniel Clarke profiles the climbs of the Lake Placid bike course in this video. For athletes racing Ironman Lake Placid this weekend, this video gives you a glimpse of what you can expect if you haven’t had the chance to do some actual riding on the course yet:

This video looks at the Keene Descent, which is approximately 12 km long:

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You’ve followed your training schedules religiously.  Your fitness is at an all-time high.  You’re ready to toe the line for your next race of the season, but you still have to let your body rest up for a big effort. The lower volume days before a race is usually referred to as the “Taper Period.”

This can be as long as two weeks for Ironman and as little as three to four days for less important or shorter races. This taper period is critical to allow your body and mind to rest and be fully energized for the big day. The goal of the taper is to allow you to optimize your preparation, not gain additional fitness. Understanding this goal can make those antsy days pre-race a little easier to bear.  During this time, training volume should be reduced significantly, by up to 50 per cent depending on the race goal; however, continuing your regular training schedule and incorporating short race pace specific sets will allow you to maintain the endurance you developed during the initial preparation stage and to bring your dialled in race pace to the start line.

Try these three race prep sessions two to four days prior your next race to keep the system firing on all cylinders.  Concentrate on race visualization and feel throughout the sessions, bringing in the mindset and flow you want to attain on race day.

KEY: (Rests (R), minutes (‘), seconds (”), Warmup (WU), Cool down (CD), Main Set (MS), Race Pace (RP))

Swim (Olympic or half distance)

• Warm Up
• 2 x 200 m (swim) R: 20’’
• 4 x 100 m (50 drills / 50 free) R: 15’’ Drill:  Scull in front, Fist only
• 8 x 25 m  (1 fast / 1 easy) R: 10’’
• Main Set
• 3 x 200 m  (RP) R: 30’’
• 8 x 100 m (2 RP / 1 easy) R: 15’’
• R; 1’
• 200 m RP
• Cool Down:
• 4 x 50 m easy choice R: 10’’   0

Run

• WU:  20’ easy pace, including 4 X 100m accelerations R: 1’
• MS:  5 x 2’ (repeats 1-3-5 race pace / 2-4 slightly faster than race pace (5 or 10 km pace) R: 2’ between
• CD:  easily 15’

Bike

• WU: 20-30’ building up to just below RP.  Include 3X1’ RP effort / R: 1’
• MS Pyramid: 4 min at RP, 3 min at RP, 2 min at RP, 1 min at RP, R:2’ between
• CD:  20’ easy

The post Workout: Your optimal taper week appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for St. Jude

Ironman Lake Placid has a celebrity athlete racing this weekend. Sitting on the pro panel as a special guest, reality TV star and winner of 2015’s The Bachelorette season, Shawn Booth is taking on his first Ironman this weekend and has received lots of media attention lately for his participation in the sport. Catch the full pro panel (also with Ironman champion and Canadian long course star Brent McMahon) and hear Booth talk about his entry into the sport below:

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— By Pip Taylor

The question of how much salt you need is both confusing and contentious. Salt is a prominent ingredient in many sports nutrition products and is considered to be an important factor in nutrition guidelines when it comes to hydration and cramps. Adding to the confusion on what is appropriate when it comes to salt intake – and somewhat at odds – is the decades-old message that salt is a prime culprit when it comes to high blood pressure and heart disease. We’re often told that we should put the shaker down. So what do we know about salt? And how much salt does an endurance athlete really need?

The shake down on salt

Salt is comprised of 40 per cent sodium and 60 per cent chloride. Sodium is a vital nutrient: as a key component of extracellular fluid, the electrolyte, along with potassium, magnesium and calcium, helps balance cell fluid levels and maintain blood plasma volume necessary for cellular metabolism and absorption. Sodium also helps regulate heart contraction and function. Both components of salt – sodium and chloride – are also important when it comes to nerve signalling and muscle contraction. The general thinking went that if sodium intake was high, blood pressure would soar, putting extra strain on the cardiovascular system. But over recent years, research has emerged quashing this accepted wisdom and revealing that, in fact, the link between salt intake and hypertension (high blood pressure) is overstated.

Recommendations still generally advise an intake of below 1,500 mg of sodium per day, well below the average 3,400 mg intake for most of us. But the truth is that, in healthy individuals the kidneys do a good job of regulating levels of water and sodium (and other electrolytes) across a broad range of dietary sodium intakes. A sudden increase in salt will cause a shift of fluid from intra- to extracellular fluid – helping to explain that fluid retention and swollen limbs we experience after a Friday night feast of pizza and chips. But, over time, the kidney compensates and starts excreting extra sodium to match dietary intake. This is an important concept to consider when talking about athletes and so-called “salty sweaters” – the ones whose race suits and run clothes end up crusted with white salt.

A thirst for salt

What this means for athletes

Athletes have diligently followed advice over the years that “salty sweaters” need to ingest more salt. But more recent research is challenging that idea by suggesting that salty sweaters are simply excreting excess salt, as opposed to losing excessive amounts that need to be replaced. This notion has been backed up by other research that has shown that ingesting extra sodium during an Ironman had no effect on blood sodium concentration or blood plasma volume.

Salt has also been recommended to endurance athletes to avert the risk of hyponatremia – a serious condition where there is insufficient sodium in the blood. But hyponatremia has been shown to be caused by over drinking of water, as opposed to simply drinking to thirst, rather than excessive loss of sodium through sweat.

Cramps

What role does salt play?

Because little is really known about cramps, advice that abounds is largely speculative, based on possible physiological connections as well as on-field observations. The commonly held belief is that exercise-induced cramps result from dehydration and electrolyte depletion. But this notion is false. A 2011 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found no difference in blood sodium levels between cramping athletes and cramp-free athletes during an Ironman triathlon. Similar results have been demonstrated across other endurance sports. In other words, sodium losses and sweat rates are unrelated to cramping.

Contradicting this scientific literature, though, are the vast numbers of athletes who swear that salt supplementation is beneficial. And it’s important to remember that just because there is a lack of evidence to support this practice doesn’t mean it is not true. Surprisingly, though, there is some scientific weight to the “pickle juice folk remedy.” Recent  research suggests it’s not the salty brine, but rather the spicy taste acting on receptors in the mouth that somehow disrupts the neural malfunction associated with the uncoordinated muscle contractions of cramps.

Salt

Shake it or leave it?

When it comes to health, dietary salt intake may not be as harmful as we once thought, nor as important as the lack of potassium which acts to reduce blood pressure. The average diet is heavy on high-sodium processed foods, but falls severely short on the potassium-rich fruits and vegetables. The best dietary advice, then, is to minimize processed foods and boost your vegetable and fruit content. Otherwise you can enjoy generous amounts of salt on foods (unless you are hypertensive, in which case speak with your health professional).

For endurance athletes who swear by their sodium supplements, rest assured that there is no evidence that consuming salt during exercise has a detrimental effect on performance and a mountain of anecdotal evidence that suggests it might be beneficial for some individuals. Sodium contained in regular sports nutrition products will be adequate for most and encourage adequate intake of fluids and fuel by improving taste profile. If you are prone to cramps, experiment.

Sports nutrition, like most things, is not a one size fits all proposition: for some, salt seems to play important role, even if not backed up by scientific proof.

The post Salt: health and performance appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

Ironman victory. Course record. I think the picture says it all. #IMLP . . . . #LifeSportCoach #IronmanU #swimbikerun #becomeone #firsttofinish #triathlon #triathloncoach

A post shared by Lance Watson (@coach.lance) on Jul 23, 2017 at 4:42pm PDT

Brent McMahon delivered another crushing Ironman victory over the weekend with a course record at Ironman Lake Placid, on the way to securing his spot at Kona this October.

The former Olympian with the fastest Ironman debut on record and four sub-8 hour Ironmans under his belt broke the Ironman Lake Placid tape in 8:14:04, breaking the previous mark of 8:33:11 set by mountain bike great Steve Larsen 13 years ago.

Coming out of the 3.8-kilometer swim leg in just a little over 50 minutes, McMahon was within striking distance of the top 3. Biding his time, he only made his move in the final 20 kilometers of the 180-kilometer cycle course to come into transition in the lead. It was here he set his first IMLP record, notching a 4:35:25 bike split. McMahon then took off on the marathon, setting a fastest-ever race record of 2:43:51.

This is the McMahon’s third Ironman win and third course record including Ironman Arizona in 2014 and Ironman Brazil last year. Hoping he has set his early season woes behind him, McMahon will now focus on ensuring he peaks once again in Kona and performs to his talent and potential.

The post Brent McMahon sets Ironman Lake Placid course record appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

Desiree Ridenour claimed a junior gold medal while Matthew Sharpe narrowly missed the podium at the ITU Tiszaujvaros world cups in Hungary this weekend.

From Triathlon Canada:

TISZAUJVAROS, HUN—On the eve of his 26th birthday, Canada’s Matt Sharpe came up a stride short of the ultimate gift of hopping onto the World Cup podium at the world-renowned triathlon race in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary where he finished fourth.

Victoria’s Sharpe, who qualified for Sunday’s final after winning his semifinal heat on Saturday, was solid in all three disciplines of the sprint distance race, en route to finishing in fourth spot with a time of 55:19.

“Overall I’m happy with the effort, but disappointed in the result,” said Sharpe. “I came here to podium so I feel like I missed out, but I honestly couldn’t really have done anything different. This just adds more fuel to the fire.”

Taking advantage of a strong 750-metre swim where he came out of the water in eighth spot, Sharpe was one of four athletes to control the 20-kilometre slick bike course lined by thousands of screaming fans.

“After breaking my collarbone earlier this year, I haven’t had a ton of confidence in my swim, but I saw a glimpse of the past today so that is exciting,” added Sharpe. “We had rain on the bike and that made things a little messy. I stayed near the front most of the time, and made a bit of a move into T2 as the second pack caught our group. It felt a bit like a bike race so that was fun.”

Coming out of second transition in first spot with Stefan Zachaeus, Sharpe fed off the electric atmosphere in Tiszy to match stride-for-stride with the lead group on the five-kilometre run before running out of gas in the sprint finish.

“Coming off the bike I definitely had some fatigue in the legs. There were a few moments I really had to dig deep, but I pride myself in my mental strength and I was able to stay near the front. At the end it was a big sprint, and unfortunately, I was just short of third,” said Sharpe. “This place is unreal for racing and I’m so happy to race in a place where they have invested so much in Triathlon.”

Hungary’s Bence Bicsak thrilled the hometown crowd, clocking a gold medal time of 54:58. The Russians edged out Sharpe for the final two spots on the podium. Dmitry Polyanskiy claimed the silver medal at 55:13, while Ilya Prasolov won the race for the bronze at 55:18.

Charles Paquet, of Port Cartier, Que., was the only other Canadian in the field and finished 13th (55:49).

The 21st edition of the world-renowned Tiszy World Cup boasts a unique format where athletes are divided into two semifinal heats held on Saturday. The top-nine athletes in each of the three men’s heats, followed by the next three fastest times, advanced to Sunday’s final.

Desirae Ridenour Wins Back-to-Back Gold in Junior Racing

Canada’s Desirae Ridenour capped off a dream week by winning her second straight gold medal – this time at the Junior European Cup race in Tiszaujvaros.

Feeding off the momentum of winning her first international race at the CAMTRI North American Championships one week ago, the 17-year-old Ridenour took down many of the world’s top junior triathletes Sunday morning after clocking a time of 42:05 in the two-day event.

“It was such an amazing feeling to win today and nice to see the work that I have done in training is paying off,” said Ridenour, who qualified for the finals after winning her heat on Saturday. “It was such an amazing atmosphere. There were massive crowds here today with the whole town coming out to watch and cheer on all of the athletes. I am really pleased with how things went.”

Coming out of the water in third spot after a strong 500-metre swim set the tone for a nearly flawless race by the Canadian teenager. Charging out onto the 12-kilometre bike course with a trio of athletes, it was Ridenour’s teammate, Holly Henry driving it to the front of the pack after posting the fastest bike time.

The two Canadians dismounted their bike at the same time in second spot to set up a run for the medals.

“We all worked well together increasing our lead. I tried to stay hydrated on the bike as much as I could so the run wouldn’t be as painful,” said Ridenour. “I sat back for the first two loops of the run, saving my energy. Part way through the third loop, the Hungarian took off and I kept with her. I stayed behind her until the final 300 metres where I sprinted passed her. I just kept up the pace till the finish line.”

Hungary’s Dorka Putnoczki settled for second place at 42:16. Olivia Mathias, of Great Britain, finished 23 seconds off the leading mark in third spot at 42:28.

While Canada’s Holly Henry hammered the bike, it was her sister Hannah Henry rocking the run. The young Victoria resident stormed into fourth place with a time of 42:44. Holly Henry placed 23rd at 44:33.

It has been a week to remember for Ridenour. In addition to winning her first two international junior races, the Canadian teen qualified to race in the Super League Triathlons.

“I am super excited and nervous to race in Super League. It will be a great learning opportunity as I will be competing against the best triathletes in the world,” added Ridenour. “I have a bit of confidence, but I don’t like to have too much because you never know what the top athletes are capable of.”

Triathlon Canada is the governing body of the sport in the country. Triathlon Canada’s more than 22,000 members include athletes, coaches and officials from the grassroots to elite levels. With the support of its valued corporate partners –Project, Training Peaks, Zizu Optics, Flight Centre, and Polar – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, and Own the Podium, Triathlon Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic and world Champions in all race disciplines. For more information on Triathlon Canada, please visit us at www.triathloncanada.com.

Top-Five World Cup Men’s and Canadian Results:

1. Bence Bicsak, HUN, 54:58; 2. Dmitry Polyanskiy, RUS, 55:13; 3. Ilya Prasolov, RUS, 55:18; 4. Matt Sharpe, Victoria, CAN, 55:19; 5. Stefan Zachaeus, LUX, 55:19

Other Canadian Results:

13. Charles Paquet, Port Cartier, Que., 55:49

Top-Five Junior Women’s European Cup and Canadian Results:

1. Desirae Ridenour, Cowichan Bay, B.C., CAN, 42:05; 2. Dorka Putnoczki, HUN, 42:16; 3. Olivia Mathias, GBR, 42:28; 4. Hannah Henry, Victoria, CAN, 42:44; 5. Dora Rojik, HUN, 42:47

Other Canadian Results:

23. Holly Henry, Victoria, 44:33

The post Ridenour wins junior gold, Sharpe takes fourth at Tiszaujvaros world cup appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

Congratulations to everyone who earned themselves a podium, and/or qualified in their age group for the 2018 Ironman 70.3 World Championships at yesterday’s Ironman 70.3 Calgary. Here are the top Canadian results from each age-group:

Pro Women:

• Sue Huse — 4th (4:08:35)
• Nicole Walker — 7th (4:25:00)
• Jenny Fletcher — 8th (4:28:34)

Pro Men:

• David Lacombe — 5th (3:52:05)
• Jason Pohl — 7th (3:53:02)
• James Cook — 9th (3:59:59)
• Dusty Spiller — 10th (4:02:09)

Women 18-24:

• Sarah Filice — 1st (5:10:26)

Women 25-29:

• Christina Charles — 1st (4:09:34)
• Sarah Latonas — 2nd (4:35:49)
• Brittany Dunbar — 3rd (4:46:09)

Women 30-34:

• Marie Kralovcova — 2nd (4:43:09)
• Katherine Hunt — 3rd (4:45:55)

Women 35-39:

• Megan MacDonald — 2nd (4:31:32)

Women 40-44

• Janine Willis — 1st (4:18:16)
• Amber Wanless — 2nd (4:45:00)
• Julie Anderson — 3rd (4:58:14)

Women 45-49

• Tanya Saloman — 1st (4:32:32)
• Leoni Kelly — 2nd (4:46:20)

Women 50-54

• Jacqueline Hatherly — 1st (4:38:06)
• Louise Taylor — 2nd (4:52:03)
• Hillie Van’T Klooster — 3rd (5:17:55)

Women 55-59

• Marla Moncrieff — 1st (4:52:58)
• Catherine Matsalla — 2nd (5:00:19)
• Suzanne Flanigan — 3rd (5:09:51)

Women 60-64

• Thea Jacobs — 1st (5:32:33)
• Lindy Welsby — 2nd (5:57:24)
• Donna See — 3rd (6:12:06)

Women 65-69

• Bev Smith — 1st (6:33:27)
• Monique McLeod — 2nd (7:53:02)

Men 18-24

• Liyang Wang — 2nd (4:30:02)

Men 25-29

• Nick Ontkean — 2nd (4:14:16)

Men 30-34

• Dave van Reeuwyk — 1st (3:56:16)
• Sheldon Timms — 2nd (3:59:53)
• Jared Bone — 3rd (4:06:23)

Men 35-39

• Richard MacDonald — 2nd (4:04:47)

Men 40-44

• Darin Hunter — 1st (4:12:59)
• Ian Elm — 2nd (4:17:03)

Men 45-49

• Calvin Zaryski — 1st (4:04:41)
• Alain Tremblay — 2nd (4:20:43)

Men 50-54

• Martin Courtenay — 1st (4:29:01)

Men 55-59

• John van Heyst — 1st (4:25:26)
• Darren Berreth –3rd (4:38:38)

Men 60-64

• Chris Clark — 3rd (5:03:02)

Men 65-69

• Richard Tout — 1st (5:06:21)
• Su-Chong Lim (5:55:25)

Men 70-74

• Joseph Garcia — 1st (6:20:57)

The post Top Canadian results from Ironman 70.3 Calgary appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

The post Protected: Review: Pearl Izumi Tri Fly P.R.O. v3 appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

A few weeks ago it was announced that legendary swimmer Michael Phelps would race the fastest creature in the water, a great white shark. Limited details were given about the event, which aired on the Discovery Channel as part of Shark Week. Yesterday, the race took place with Phelps racing a simulated shark, which disappointed some fans. Here are videos from the race, which Phelps lost by 2 seconds:

The post VIDEO: Michael Phelps races great white shark, loses by 2 seconds appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

Photos by Nick Morales

Iceland has become one of the hottest tourism destinations in the world in the past few years, and for multisport athletes there’s a perfect reason to head there and check it off your travel bucket-list. Challenge Iceland is the country’s only triathlon and the half distance covers a course that’s simply stunning from start to finish.

The post 30 photos that prove Challenge Iceland is as beautiful as you’re imagining it appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.

— By Luke Yates 

For those getting ready for this weekend’s Ironman Canada and the new Ironman 70.3 Canada, we checked in with someone who knows the course well — and has seen success on it — to give you the best tips to master your own race. Dylan Gleeson earned his pro card after placing as the top overall age-grouper at Ironman Canada in 2014 and spends time throughout the season training on the course in Whistler, BC. In these videos, he breaks down the swim, bike and run courses individually and gives you tips on what to expect, how to save time and recommends some equipment that may be useful given the forecasted race day conditions.

The post VIDEOS: Pro tips to master the swim, bike and run courses at Ironman Canada appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.