ITU Media Release: 3 September 2004

 

WORLD CUP ACTION RESUMES IN HAMBURG

 

Hamburg, Germany: 10 days after the highly successful Athens Olympic Games Triathlon, the 2004 World Cup series is ready to resume the season at the most spectator and television-friendly event on the circuit.  Over 200,000 spectators are expected to line the course for both the women’s event on Saturday and the men’s event on Sunday.  As well, both events will be televised live throughout Germany from 15:00 to 17:00 local time on Saturday and from 14:00 to 16:00 on Sunday.  Triathlon fans around the world will be able to view the event live by tuning their satellite dish into the Astra Satellite System.

 

In the women’s event, 5 of the top 10 World Cup athletes are on the start list, including #2 ranked Pip Taylor of Australia.  Taylor who has 2 second places finishes in World Cup events this year is well rested and reportedly in the hunt for the top step of the podium.  World Ranked #3, Anja Dittmer of German, the 2003 Hamburg World Cup Champion, is returning from an 11TH place finish at the Athens Olympic Games, but is still eager to go for back to back wins at home.

 

Andrea Whitcombe of Britain, who was by-passed by selectors for the British Olympic Team is the best runner in the field and will be another one to watch.  Team-mate Leanda Cave who won the Tongyeong World Cup earlier this year and is currently ranked #6 in the world should be at the head of the field over the 8 lap, very technical bike course.

 

The young Australian, Annabel Luxford shares World Rank #6 with Cave, and is a sure bet for a podium finish here. 

 

In the men’s event World Ranked #3 Shane Reed of New Zealand and World Ranked #4 Maik Petzold of Germany are the ones to watch – both athletes have one World Cup title to their credits this season as Petzold won the Salford World Cup and Reed won the recent Tiszaujvaros World Cup.  The flat technical course in Hamburg is well suited to these athletes. 

 

Volodymyr Polikarpenko of the Ukraine, who was the overall World Cup winner in 2003 is in town to redeem himself after a disappointing 30th place finish in the Olympic Games. 

 

The German fans will also be eager to watch Andreas Raelert who had an impressive 6th place finish at the Olympic Games and was the top German finisher.  Olympic teammate Sebastian Dehmer, who was 26th at the Olympic will also be out to impressive his home-country fans. 

 

ITU Media will be covering the action live from Hamburg on www.triathlon.org beginning at 15:00 local time for the women’s event on Saturday and 14:00 on Sunday for the men’s event.  Jackie Fairweather (nee Gallagher) will be the main presenter for the live audio.  She will be assisted by Jill Savege of Canada who has not fully recovered from that spectacular bike crash at the Olympic Games.  Live coverage will also include live results updated after each lap, live photos and text updates.  

 

For complete information about the Hamburg World Cup, please visit www.triathlon.org

 

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