2005 ITU Hobart Continental Triathlon

Event Information

What: ITU Hobart International Triathlon

When: Sunday 20 February 2005

Where: Princes Wharf/Salamanca Place, Sullivans Cove, Hobart, Tasmania

Distance: 1.5km Swim/40km Bike/10km Run

Who: 100 elite/professional triathletes from all over Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the USA. Plus, over 400 age group (amateur) triathletes from every state and territory of Australia. The event includes individuals and relay teams.

Web Site: www.triathlontasmania.org

Background

In 2004 one of Australia’s original and best Olympic distance triathlon celebrated its 20^th birthday. After 20 very successful years the ITU Devonport International Triathlon has moved 350km south from the North West Coast of Tasmania and relocated to Hobart - the states capital city. Hobart is Australia's second oldest city (after Sydney) and previously hosted the 1994 ITU World Duathlon Championships. Hobart is also the finish line of the world famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Over the past 20 years the Devonport Triathlon has hosted the who’s who of international triathlon and it’s honour role of past winners include Olympic Champions, Commonwealth Games Champions, World Champions and Australian Champions. The event has regularly hosted athletes who are ranked top ten in the world including world number one ranked athlete Barb Lindquist (USA) and Olympic gold medallist Hamish Carter (NZL) along with Olympic silver medallist Loretta Harrop. Past winners include: Loretta Harrop, Jackie Fairweather (Gallagher), Barb Lindquist (USA), Emma Carney, Siri Lindley, Joanne King, Michellie Jones, Liz Blatchford (GBR), Craig Walton, Paul Amey (GBR), Brad Beven, Ben Bright, Chris Hill, Spot Anderson, Andrew Johns (GBR), Martin Krnavek (CZE) and Brad Kahlefeldt. The inaugural ITU Hobart International Triathlon will proudly carry on the traditions and high standards that have been set over the years by the Devonport “Classic” Triathlon.

Introduction

The 2005 ITU Hobart International Triathlon is part of the Triathlon Australia (TA) National Triathlon Series. The Hobart event is the first of two selection races for the 2005 ITU World Triathlon Championships to be held in Japan in August. This year’s event will have 2 hours national exposure on Channel Ten and syndicated worldwide on Fox sports. The event also carries International Triathlon Union (ITU) World ranking points.

The event will also be a selection race for age group athletes who wish to represent Australia at the ITU World Age Group Triathlon Championships at Honolulu, USA in October. Age group athletes will also compete for TA National Series points to decide the TA National Age Group Series Champions.

The course will take in the much of the city's historic waterfront and CBD including Battery Point. The transition will be located at Princes Wharf adjacent to the famous Salamanca Place and directly in front of Parliament House. The event fits nicely into Hobart's Summer Festival, which includes the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Taste of Tasmania, The Wooden Boat Festival and now the ITU Hobart International Triathlon.

Registration

Registration and Race Kit collection will take place at race headquarters at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, 1 Davey Street, and Hobart on Saturday 19 February between 1pm and 4pm.

Accommodation

Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart (HGC) is the host hotel of the ITU Hobart International Triathlon. The HGC is offering great accommodation and breakfast deals to all competitors, partners, family and friends. Full details can be found on the HGC website: www.ghihotels.com or phone Central Reservations direct on 1800 753 379 or (03) 6235 4535 or e-mail: reservations@hgchobart.com.au

For alternative accommodation options in Hobart please contact Tasmania’s Temptations Holidays on their website www.tastemptations.com.au who will search for accommodation that will satisfy all tastes and budgets. For more information on Tasmania and Hobart check out the Discover Tasmania website here: www.discovertasmania.com.au

Getting To Hobart

Hobart International Airport is approximately 17km from Hobart CBD and is well serviced by buses and taxis. More information here about the Hobart International Airport here: www.hobartairpt.com.au or alternatively you can fly into Launceston airport, which is situated 180km north of Hobart.

Qantas flies several times daily into Hobart and Launceston from Melbourne and Sydney. There are connections from other mainland centres on the Qantas/QantasLink network. Reservations - phone 13 1313 or www.qantas.com.au

Virgin Blue has daily flights into Launceston and Hobart from Melbourne, with connections from other destinations within the Virgin Blue network. Virgin Blue also offers direct flights between Launceston and Sydney and between Hobart and Brisbane. It also offers direct flights from Adelaide to Hobart. Reservations - phone 13 67 89 or www.virginblue.com.au

Jetstar, Qantas’s budget airline, operates low-cost services
from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane direct to Hobart and direct to Launceston. To book, phone 131 538, or book online at www.jetstar.com

Course Description (Elite and Age Group)

Swim - 1.5km (2 x 750m Laps) Princes Wharf/Waterman Dock

The swim will take place in Sullivans Cove along side Princes wharf with a pontoon dive start for elites and deep water start for age groups and teams. At this stage we envisage a wetsuit swim with expected water temperature 18-20 degrees Celsius.

Bike - 40km (8 x 5km Laps) Salamanca Place, Battery Point & CBD

Bike course includes Castray Esp., to a U turn in Battery Point, return to transition and travel past historic Hobart waterfront. Turn left onto Davey St. and head up to Sandy Bay Rd. Turn left onto Sandy Bay Rd and then right into Wilmot St. Travel up the hill and turn right onto Hampden Rd then right onto Davey St. Fly down Davey Street from Hampden Road to a U turn at Hunter St in front of the Hotel Grand Chancellor before returning to the transition area. Each laps has three hills (two easy/moderate climbs and one short/steep climb).

**WARNING** Davey Street and Wilmot Street are one-way streets. On race day cyclists will travel along these streets in the opposite direction to traffic flow. It will not be possible to ride/train on this part of the course before race day. To do so is breaking the law and putting your own life and the lives of others at risk. Tasmanian police will be monitoring this section of the course leading up to the race.

Run (10km – 3 x 3.33km Laps) Salamanca Place and Waterfront Docks

The run course is flat, fast and scenic. Exit the transition area and proceed along Castray Esplanade in the same direction as the bike course. The course loops around the CSIRO building and then travels back along the wharf with spectacular views of the Derwent River and the Tasman Bridge. The run course then travels through the transition area before heading out towards the Hunter street turnaround in front of the Hotel Grand Chancellor via Morrison Street, Argyle street and Davey street. Make sure you take the time to check out the spectacular views of the Hobart waterfront and Mount Wellington. At the Hunter street turn around, head back to the transition area along Davey, Argyle and Morrison streets to complete one full lap of 3.33km.

Contact Details

ITU Hobart International Triathlon

C/- DTA Events

P O Box 1140

Devonport, Tasmania, 7310

AUSTRALIA

Ph (03) 6423 4548

Fax (03) 6423 3445

Web Site: www.triathlontasmania.org

E-Mail: dtasport@bigpond.net.au

DTA Events Committee

Kerry Stubbs (Race Director)