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Le seul Canadien au départ du côté des hommes sera Brent McMahon qui est classé 5e. Ce sera très probablement sa dernière course de la saison 2011. Pour environ des deux dernières semaines, ce dernier s’entraînait à Flagstaff en Arizona spécialement pour la course de ce weekend. Ce sera donc intéressant de voir comment l’entraînement en altitude a été bénéfique. On sait que Guatape est situé à plus de 6000 pieds en altitude… McMahon vise très certainement un podium et une telle performance serait vraiment l’apothéose d’un retour à la compétition en 2011. Plus encore, de précieux points sont en jeu. Chaque compétition d’ici mai 2012 est importante dans le processus de qualification olympique.
Neuf Américains seront du départ. Matt Chrabot, Jarrod Shoemaker et Manny Huerta sont les plus dangereux pour une place sur le podium. De plus, le numéro 61 est une figure connue en ITU. Nul autre qu’Andy Potts effectuera un retour sur le circuit. Ce sera intéressant de voir s’il est encore capable de sortir premier de l’eau, lui qui s’entraînait plus spécifiquement pour la longue distance depuis deux ans. On verra bien, mais on peut prédire une natation très rapide avec Varga (SVK), Farias (ARG) et Igor Polyansky (RUS) au départ.
Les autres à surveiller plus spécialement seront Ivan Rana qui en sera à son 14e départ de la saison, mais qui semble progresser de course en course et Tony Moulai qui est toujours dangereux malgré que sa saison 2011 ne soit pas sa meilleure.
Finalement, un autre à surveiller sera Gavin Noble (IRL) qui s’entraînait lui aussi à Flagstaff récemment et qui pourrait ainsi surprendre.
D’autres athlètes pourraient également se faufiler parmi les premiers. Les courses de fin de saison peuvent être surprenantes.
Chantell Widney sera la seule canadienne au départ avec le numéro 29.
Le Japon sera très fort à cette compétition avec trois femmes qui peuvent aspirer à une place sur le podium : « A trio of Japanese women have a rare chance to fill the podium in Guatape, with form backing in Juri Ide, Mariko Adachi and Tomoko Sakimoto this weekend. Ide is coming off a stellar World Cup win in Huatulco, while Adachi finished fifth at the Tongyeong World Cup the week after. Sakimoto claimed silver at the recent Asian Championships, and has impressed with her run throughout the year. » [triathlon.org]
Par contre, il ne faut pas oublier l’Espagnole Marina Damlaimcourt qui a tout récemment gagné à Huatulco. De plus, la Portugaise Vanessa Fernandez en sera à sa troisième course en 2011. Les autres filles au départ sont également très compétitives : « Other women who already have World Cup medals this year include Mateja Simic (SLO), Lisa Perterer (AUT) and Anne Haug (GER). It’s also hard to rule out regular top 10 Dextro Energy Triathlon Series finisher Vicky Holland (GBR), previous World Cup winner Vendula Frintova (CZE) and U23 world champion Agnieszka Jerzyk (POL). Pamela Nascimento Oliveira (BRA) is coming off bronze at the Pan American Games, while Alexandra Razarenova (RUS) won the European U23 championships just last weekend. Also not to be discounted is France’s Carole Peon; who has spent time on the sidelines injured this year but finished fourth in Tongyeong. It was Peon’s second fourth in a major race this season; after an impressive showing at the opening Dextro Energy Triathlon Series round in Sydney back in April ». [triathlon.org]
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The only Canadian on the men side will be Brent McMahon who is ranked 5th on the start list. This will be his last race of the 2011 campaign I guess. For the last two weeks or so, he was training in Flagstaff (AZ) specifically for this race. It will be interesting to see his fitness as we know that Guatape is located over 6000 feet in altitude. Flagstaff’s altitude training will certainly pay off. A podium is probably what he is aiming for and it would complete a remarkable “comeback season”. Precious points are also on the line as we know that every race counts until the end of the Olympic qualification process.
Nine Americans will be on the line. Matt Chrabot, Jarrod Shoemaker and Manny Huerta are the ones to watch for a podium place. If you check out the start list, you will be pleased to see who is ranked number 61. Andy Potts will make his ITU comeback. Will he still be able to get out of the water first even if he’s on an Ironman training regiment since two years ? We will see. This should be a fast swim with Varga (SVK), Farias (ARG) and Igor Polyansky (RUS) on the line.
Others to watch are Ivan Rana who will be starting his 14th race of the season but who seems to be improving races after races and Tony Moulai who is always a dangerous guy in the field even though his 2011 season is not his best.
We also know that Gavin Noble (IRL) was also training in Flagstaff coming into this race so this may give him a shot at the top 8-10.
Other athletes may crack the top 10 since “end off season races” are sometime surprising.
Chantell Widney will be the only canadian woman to start the race with number 29 on the line.
Japan has a strong team out there with three women having a chance to fill the podium : « A trio of Japanese women have a rare chance to fill the podium in Guatape, with form backing in Juri Ide, Mariko Adachi and Tomoko Sakimoto this weekend. Ide is coming off a stellar World Cup win in Huatulco, while Adachi finished fifth at the Tongyeong World Cup the week after. Sakimoto claimed silver at the recent Asian Championships, and has impressed with her run throughout the year. » [triathlon.org]
But don’t forget Spanyard Marina Damlaimcourt who just won the Huatulco WC. Also there is Portugese Vanessa Fernandez who will participate in her 3rd race this year. The rest of the field is also very competitive : « Other women who already have World Cup medals this year include Mateja Simic (SLO), Lisa Perterer (AUT) and Anne Haug (GER). It’s also hard to rule out regular top 10 Dextro Energy Triathlon Series finisher Vicky Holland (GBR), previous World Cup winner Vendula Frintova (CZE) and U23 world champion Agnieszka Jerzyk (POL). Pamela Nascimento Oliveira (BRA) is coming off bronze at the Pan American Games, while Alexandra Razarenova (RUS) won the European U23 championships just last weekend. Also not to be discounted is France’s Carole Peon; who has spent time on the sidelines injured this year but finished fourth in Tongyeong. It was Peon’s second fourth in a major race this season; after an impressive showing at the opening Dextro Energy Triathlon Series round in Sydney back in April ». [triathlon.org]