adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
IT will be a stern test of stamina and skill in the 2015 edition of the crucial annual triathlon contest — the rebranded Schweppes Water Troutbeck ITU Triathlon African Cup — which gets underway at Troutbeck in Nyanga on Saturday (tomorrow). The important event on the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and African Triathlon Union (ATU) calendar, held annually in the picturesque yet undulating terrain of Troutbeck in Nyanga has always attracted big name athletes on the domestic, regional and international scene.
Although the defending champion, Henri Schoeman will not be around to defend his title as he is committed in another race in Scotland and last year’s second placed Wian Sullwald will be present and expecting to make amend and win the competition, tomorrow’s event is expected to see stiff competition among athletes from countries such as Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Luxemburg, Mauritius, Namibia and Hong Kong.
Normally the main event of the annual sporting fete consists of a 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run.
The cycle and run courses will consist of multi laps through the Troutbeck Hotel complex. The course will then be used for five other races that will do distances less than the main event but proportionate to that course.
These other races will consist of 750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run for adult age groups and the same for Under-17 and Under-19 athletes. There will also be 375m swim, 10km cycle, 2.5km run for Under-13 and Under-15 athletes. The event staged in 2010 and again in 2011, remains part of the Olympic qualification process.
Troutbeck is selected to host the event owing to the requirement for clean water for the swim element, its close proximity to a good tar road for the cycle section, and its central location for all aspects of the event for spectators and athletes alike.
This year, Hyundai, Dello Lubricants, Bokomo co-sponsor the event together title sponsor, Schweppes.
Triathlon Zimbabwe president, Rick Fulton, confirmed that there will be athletes from Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Luxemburg, Mauritius, Namibia and Hong Kong will be competing during the event.
“All is set for the event. We are expecting to witness stiff competition and an exciting contest. Races begin around 7.30am, while the main event begins at 12pm. The competition is vital in that it is one of the continental series whereupon athletes on the elite panel will get points to qualify for the Olympics while the locals will be in for their national championships,” he said.
Fulton said Zimbabwe will not be represented in the elite category.
Online Reporter