WORLD'S BEST ENDURANCE ATHLETES COMPETE FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LONG DISTANCE CROWN IN FRANCE
WORLD'S BEST ENDURANCE ATHLETES COMPETE FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LONG DISTANCE CROWN IN FRANCE
The ITU Long Distance World Championships returns to France after a six-year absence on Saturday 1 June as Belfort welcomes some of the world's best athletes battling it out for glory. The men's and women's races at the 18th Long Distance World Championships are full of former medallists including Caroline Steffen (SUI), Jodie Swallow (GBR), Dirk Bockel (LUX), Martin Jensen (DEN) and Sylvain Sudrie (FRA).
France has a close affiliation with the event, having hosted the very first race in 1995, and the 2013 race in Belfort marks the sixth time the race has been held in the country. The last time it was held in France - in Lorient in 2007 - the Elite Men's race was dominated by French athletes and it is the only time in the event's history where one nation has occupied all three places on the podium. For the full preview, click here.
About the race
There have been 17 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships, and Denmark and Great Britain leading the overall medal tally with six titles each. Denmark have five men's and one women's, while Great Britain have five women's and one men's. The 2013 world titles will this year be decided over a 9.5km run, 87km bike, 20km run due to unforseen cold weather and water temperatures.
SCHEDULE
Elite Men - Saturday 1 June - 4:15pm AEST Click here to time in your area
Elite Women - Saturday 1 June - 4:18pm AEST Click here for time in your area
WEBSITE:
triathlon.org
triathlondebelfort.fr/
START LISTS
Click here for women's start list
Click here for men's start list
LIVE COVERAGE
There will be live results and live streaming of the event available on the event website.
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY
$70,000 EUR (equal for men & women)
COURSE PROFILE
Long Distance
Please note that due to current temperatures and bad weather forecasts, in accordance with ITU Rules to be able to ensure athlete safety, the course has been changed to a Duathlon event 9.5km run - 87 km bike - 20 km run.
Click here for course maps.
STORIES TO WATCH FOR
Elite Women's Race -Reigning women's champion Steffen is aiming to become the most successful woman in the history of the Long Distance World Championships. Having won gold in 2012 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain and in 2010 in Immenstadt, Germany, Steffen is hoping for an unprecedented third victory which would see her surpass Germany's Ines Estedt, who won in 1997 and 2002. Steffen will face fierce competition from Pederson. Pederson dominated the field earlier in May at the ETU Challenge Middle Distance European Championships. Great Britain have enjoyed an enviable record at the race in recent years. Five different British women have won gold in the last seven years - Steffen's victories in 2010 and 2012 are the only non-British victories since 2005. Jodie Swallow (GBR) carries British hopes at Belfort. Swallow won world championship gold in Perth, Australia in 2009 and finished third in last year's race in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Virginia Berasategi (ESP) could also factor, just having missed the podium last year and with three Long Distance World Championship medals to her name.
Elite Men's Race - Bockel won bronze at the 2012 Long Distance World Championships and is the highest finisher from Vitoria-Gasteiz competing at Belfort for the 2013 race. Jensen will be hoping to claim an elusive world championship gold medal in Belfort. Jensen has twice finished third (in 2008 and 2009) but goes into the 2013 event in good form after finishing second at the Middle Distance European Championships in May. Former world champion Sudrie has excelled since focusing on the long distance format. As well as winning gold in Immenstadt, Germany in 2010, he claimed silver in Perth, Australia in 2009 and bronze in Henderson, USA in 2011 meaning he achieved a podium finish in three consecutive Long Distance World Championships.
PAST ITU LONG DISTANCE TRIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Men Women
2012 Vitoria-Gasteiz ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Chris McCormack (AUS) Caroline Steffen (SUI)
2011 Henderson ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Jordan Rapp (USA) Rachel Joyce (GBR)
2010 Immenstadt ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Sylvain Sudrie (FRA) Caroline Steffen (SUI)
2009 Perth ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Timothy O'Donnell (USA) Jodie Swallow (GBR)
2008 Almere ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Julian Loy (FRA) Chrissie Wellington (GBR)
2007 Lorient ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Julian Loy (FRA) Leanda Cave (GBR)
2006 Canberra ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Torbjorn Sindballe (DEN) Bella Comerford (GBR)
2005 Fredericia ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Viktor Zyemstev (UKR) Kathleen Smet (BEL)
2004 Sater ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Torbjorn Sindballe (DEN) Tamara Kozulina (UKR)
2003 Ibiza ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Eneko Llanos (ESP) Virginia Berasategi (ESP)
2001 Fredericia ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Peter Sandvang (DEN) Lisbeth Kristensen (DEN)
2000 Nizza ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Peter Sandvang (DEN) Isabelle Mouthon-Michellys (FRA)
1999 Sater ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Peter Sandvang (DEN) Suzanne Nielsen (DEN)
1998 Sado Island ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Luc Van Lierde (BEL) Rina Hill (AUS)
1997 Nizza ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Luc Van Lierde (BEL) Ines Estedt (GER)
1996 Muncie ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Greg Welch (AUS) Karen Smyers (USA)
1995 Nice ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Simon Lessing (GBR) Jenny Rose (NZL)
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