ITU Duathlon World titles to be decided this weekend
Created On: 21 September 2012
Katie Hewison goes to the ITU Duathlon World Championships in
Nancy, France this weekend looking to defend the world title she
won in Gijon last year. She is part of a GE Great Britain Team that
includes former ITU Triathlon World Champion, Tim Don.
Hewison faces the silver and bronze medallists from 2011. Jenny
Schulz (GER) and Sandra Levenez (FRA) will both take the start
line. Schulz held the lead last year, having overtaken Hewison in
the closing stages, only to be passed once again by an inspired
Hewison who summoned the energy for a final push to the finish
tape.
Hewison said: "I've had a good summer and I'm looking forward to
the challenge of going to the World Duathlon Championships as the
defending champion.
"Last year's event was so exciting with the lead changing late
in the run. Crossing the line first was an amazing feeling, and I
hope that things go well again for me and the rest of the team this
year."
Tim Don has previously stated his intention to race at the ITU
Duathlon World Championships, but has been unable due to diary
clashes. He could challenge to be the first British male winner
since Paul Amey in 2007.
Mark Buckingham and Phil Wylie will be strong British
contenders. Roger Roca Dalmau (ESP) starts as defending champion
and last year's silver and bronze medallists, Victor Del Corral
Morales (ESP) and Benoit Nicolas (FRA), are also racing.
ETU Duathlon European Champion, Richard Horton, has his sights
on the podium, as will ETU Junior Triathlon Champion, Georgia
Taylor-Brown and ETU Junior Duathlon silver medallist, Georgina
Schwiening.
Age-Group start lines will be dominated by Great Britain and
France on Sunday. The GE Great Britain Age-Group team
contains twelve medallists from last year's World Championships,
including four gold medallists.
Gillian Palmer won gold in the 30-34 age-group last year,
Hillary Ross won the 55-50 age-group and Elspeth Knott won the
60-64 age-group. They all return this year along with Stuart Hall,
who won the 45-49 world title last year.
GE Great Britain Elite Team
Elite women (Saturday 22 September, 1pm UK
time)
Elite men (Saturday 22 September, 4pm UK
time)
- Philip Wylie
- Mark Buckingham
- Tim Don
Junior men (Saturday 22 September, 11am UK
time)
- Liam LLoyd
- Calum Johnson
- Richard Horton ETU Du Junior champion
Junior women (Saturday 22 September, 9.30am UK
time)
- Georgina Schwiening
- Georgia Taylor-Brown ETU Triathlon Jnr champ
Elite Paratriathlon (Saturday 22 September, 7am UK
time)
- Haseeb Ahmad
- Iain Dawson
- Adrian Howden
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