Abu Dhabi Triathlon Race Preview
The only thing set in stone for tomorrow's Abu Dhabi Triathlon is its going to be hot. TMSM's Tim Bradley previews the desert dash for cash.
There’s a real sense of anticipation among the media at this year’s Abu Dhabi Triathlon, and it’s not just the breakfast buffet that’s creating all the excitement.
Whenever you get a big crop of talented athletes at the one race, particularly when staying in the same hotel, you can’t help but get a feeling anything can and will happen on Saturday.
There is a long list of internationals from both Europe and North America in Abu Dhabi, but there is also a huge presence of Australians in town for a shot at the $50,000 winners cheque.
There’s no doubt the big prize money has been a huge draw card in luring in the world's best talent, but the race itself has some serious mystique about it already despite its relatively young status on the international triathlon calendar.
With names such as Dirk Bockel, Eneko Llanos, Rasmus Henning, Julie Dibens, Craig Alexander, Chris McCormack, Jordan Rapp and Caroline Steffen (to name a few) in town, you know there will be some serious racing come Saturday.
There are a number of variables that will influence the outcome of Saturday’s race. First, the conditions are going to be hot, particularly for those pros coming out of the Northern Hemispher winter. The elite men will be out there for over six and half hours, and Abu Dhabi is at its hottest between 11am to 3pm – just in time for the back end of the bike leg and 20-kilometre run.
Second, this race is quite early in the season for long course triathletes with ambitions for success at Vegas and Kona later in the year.
Craig Alexander, who is arguably not suited to the long bike leg in this race, contended it would be hard to judge how hard the field will approach this race being so long out from from Kona.
“You can’t be fit 12-months of the year,” Alexander said. “You know, you can’t even be fit really six-months of the year. I think that’s where long course racing is very different from short course racing. If you look at the ITU, they have a World Championship Series of five or six races, and you have the best 20 in the world racing in each one of those and peaking for each one of those.
“Ironman and long course racing is a little different. I guess the training and build up is different, and so is the recovery. Obviously at my age as well that’s another consideration. I don’t want to be too fit too early in the year if I have ambitions to race well later in the year. But I think a lot of people I’m racing here have ambitions for later in the year as well, so I think in that regard everyone is in a pretty similar position.”
However, as mentioned, with big money on offer one can’t help to think many toeing the start line on Saturday will have prepared themselves for a big shot at this race. A win in Abu Dhabi could relieve a lot of the financial strain that impacts a lot of professionals during the season, especially the younger brigade who may not have a strong foundation of sponsors.
One man who won’t be expected to set the world on fire in this race is Chris McCormack. Despite his legendary status in long course racing and the extra long bike leg in this race that suits his strengths, McCormack’s change in focus for this season to ITU racing, which starts with the ITU WCS race in Sydney in a month’s time, it would be naïve to think he will run himself into the ground during this race.
Athletes who look noticeably strong are Bockel, Llanos and Henning. Just seeing them around the hotel, they are all looking fit and will definitely be in the mix.
Leading the Australian charge will be Joe Gambles and Luke Bell.
Gambles, who recently stepped up to Iron-distance racing with a win on debut at Ironman Wisconsin late last year, is arguably Australia’s best chance. His ambition for the season ahead is the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Las Vegas; however, it is his run speed from the 70.3 racing that will give him an advantage with the shorter run leg in Abu Dhabi.
Luke Bell is the big dark horse. This race is his big hitout before Ironman South Africa next month, and it will be a good test of form to see how he is traveling.
Like Gambles, the shorter run off the bike will suit Bell’s style of racing. Both Bell and Gambles are power bikers, so when the expected attack goes towards the back end of the bike leg you can expect both of these two to be thereabouts when it happens.
As mentioned, the conditions will play a big role in determining the outcome of this race, and directly related to this is how well each athlete stays on top of their nutrition. Staying well fueled and hydrated will be of paramount importance, as the heat will take the sting out of anybody if they don’t.
One thing is for sure, there is going to be some serious action in the men’s race – these guys haven’t traveled half way around the world not to give this race a crack. A $50,000 winners cheque doesn’t come around too often during the season, and it would be silly to believe that this race won’t light up come Saturday.
On the women’s side of the coin, Julie Dibens will start as a slight favourite to defend her 2010 victory, but there is a stellar field primed to knock the Brit off. Dibens’ strengths align perfectly with the distances in this race, but pre-race she was quick to play down her favourite’s tag.
“I don’t really look at myself as the favourite,” Dibens said. “So many things have happened since last year, like Caroline has come on, she is a totally different athlete, and the field is stronger this year.
“I’m just focusing on what I need to do. I haven’t had the best preparation I would of liked leading into this race, but I have to deal with the fitness I’m coming into it with.
“It’s always exciting and you’re always nervous for the first race of the year, and nobody knows where anybodies at. I know it’s going to be a fun, hard day out there on Saturday and that’s what I like.”
Dibens was also quick to make mention that she has limited preparation in the heat.
“It’s definitely going to be a factor for me,” Dibens said. “It’s a good opportunity for me to work on my nutrition and hydration because that was a big limiting factor for me in Kona with the cramping issues I had. So it’s another chance for me to work on that and try and figure out what I need to do for that in Kona. So it’s another practice run if you like.”
Outside of Dibens, the Swiss Miss Caroline Steffen, who had a breakthrough season last year with wins at the ITU Long Course World Championships and the Asia/Pacific Ironman 70.3 Championships in Phuket, and a pretty handy second place finish in Kona, is being talked up as a big contender for the win.
Without question Steffen’s bike leg has improved significantly over the past 12-months, and she’ll be a real threat this year in Abu Dhabi after having spent a few weeks in the lead up training in the heat and humidity of Thailand.
Leanda Cave is expected to be thereabouts at the end of the bike leg, but there are question marks whether she’ll be able to match the speed of Steffen on the run in the afternoon heat.
Steffen’s preperation in the heat for me puts her slightly ahead of Dibens and Cave, but she will have to be on song to knock off the high-profiled Brits.
Men’s prediction
- Rasmus Henning
- Dirk Bockel
- Joe Gambles
Smokey: Luke Bell
Women’s prediction
- Caroline Steffen
- Julie Dibens
- Leanda Cave
Smokey: Catriona Morisson
