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ITU Media Release: 17 September 2004 - Top ranked athletes in Madrid World Cup |
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Madrid, Spain: For immediate release: This weekend (Sunday 19 September) will see the next round of action for the triathletes on the ITU World Cup circuit. The Local Organising Committee has done a fantastic job in geting the area prepared for the thousands of energetic and animated spectators expected to fill the grandstands and VIP areas this Sunday. The 1500 meter swim will be followed by a new 8 lap, 40 km bike course with a challenging hill on each lap. The athletes will then run a 4 lap, 10 km which winds through the famous Casa de Campo. The transition area is shaded by beautiful 250 year old Taray trees. In the Elite Women’s event, the top 3 World Ranked women are on the start line; Anja Dittmer of Germany and Pip Taylor and Annabel Luxford both of Australia. These athletes are all vying for the coveted title of World Cup Champion and the substantial prize purse that goes with it. Others to watch are the trio who just missed the podium in Athens, Michelle Dillon of Britain, defending champion Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal, and Ana Burgos of Spain hoping to impress in front of her home crowd. Many thousands of spectators are expected to line the course and cheer on Spain's three Elite Women who competed in the Olympic Games; Pilar Hidalgo, Ana Burgos and Ainhoa Murua. In the men's event Dimitry Gaag of Kazahkstan, the current leader in the World Cup Series is the man to beat. Gaag has a commanding lead in the hunt for the $100,000 US bonus pool for the ITU World Cup Overall Series Leaders. Volodymyr Polikarpenko of the Ukraine, who won the overall World Cup title in 2003 and is ranked 5th this year, is expected to give Gaag a run for his money, along with the number six ranked Filip Ospaly of the Czech Republic. Rasmus Henning of Denmark rocked his way up to 7th in the World after comfortably winning the Hamburg World Cup two weeks ago and is expected to find his way onto the podium again this weekend. Frederic Belaubre of France and Andreas Raelert of Germany, who placed 5th and 6th respectively at the Athens Olympic Games are others expected to perform in front the Iberian crowd. Javier Gomez of Spain, the young Spanish star is expected to earn the loudest cheers.
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