Challenge Dubai is the first of three half distance triathlons being part of the Triple Crown series. With a prize purse of 1 million dollar over the three Challenge events in the Middle East (Oman and Bahrain are the following races), this competition became the 2015 "next best thing" after Hawaii. A top class organisation and the high prize purse brought a world-class field to Dubai. The women's race was dominated by the runner-up of Hawaii, Daniela Ryf (SUI:4:05:01), followed by Heather Wurtele (CAN: 4:09:21). Helle Frederiksen (DEN: 4:11:43) of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team came third after a solid run. The men's podium was slightly unexpected with a deserved win of Terenzo Bozzone (NZL:3:41:45), Michael Raelert (GER:3:42:49), the winner of Challenge Bahrain, came second and Manuel Küng (SUI: 3:45:39) came third. Bart Aernouts (BEL:03:47:13) of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team came 6th with the 2nd best run of the race. His teammate Will Clarke finished in 34th position (GBR:04:01:35). 2015 continues to be great for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team, with 4 podium finishes in 4 races.
read more...Romain Guillaume of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team won Gwadloup Tri, an international half distance triathlon in Guadeloupe. The men's podium was only French. Romain Guillaume won with an impressive lead (FRA: 4:10:32), before 2 time French long distance champion Stéphane Poulat (FRA: 4:21:07). Francky Favre came third (FRA: 4:24:50). 2015 started great for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team, with 2 wins and a 3rd place in 3 races.
read more...After the podium finish of Bart Aernouts in Ironman 70.3 South Africa, Liz Blatchford took the first win of the season for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team. It became an Australians only podium in the women's race of Ironman 70.3 Geelong. It was Liz Blatchford (AUS: 4:19: 34) who finally defeated her compatriot Rebekah Keat (AUS: 04:20:03) during the final 3 kilometers of the run, Sarah Crowley finished 3rd after a strong run (AUS; 04:20:52). The first victory of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team for 2015 is a fact.
read more...After a stellar 2014 for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team with 21 victories and a total of 46 podium finishes, Bart Aernouts kicked off the season with a 3rd place in Ironman South Africa. Ironman South Africa was dominated by local triathletes from start to finish. Matt Trautman (ZAF; 04:04:03) finally defeated his compatriot Stuart Marais (ZAF: 04:06:04) during the final kilometers of the run, Bart Aernouts finished 3rd (BEL; 04:11:37). The first podium finish of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team for 2015 is a fact.
read more...2014 was an amazing year for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team with 21 victories and a total of 46 podium finishes, including 4 continental Championship titles and the women’s victory in Challenge Bahrain. In almost 70% of the races, the Uplace-BMC athletes placed on the podium. The team also delivered a solid performance in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii with 5 athletes in the top 12.
read more...The last race weekend of 2014 was another success weekend for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team. After the impressive performance of Helle Frederiksen yesterday in Challenge Bahrain, Liz Blatchford and Romain Guillaume were triggered to do the same in the SunSmart IRONMAN Western Australia. With a strong 3rd place of Liz and a solid 4th place of Romain, the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon ends the 2014 season with 21 victories and 46 podium finishes. In the women's race, Britta Martin (NZE), the winner of 2012, took the victory in 08:56:33, breaking the race record with more than 3 minutes. Maureen Hufe (GER), who was leading most of the race, came second 03:47 behind Martin. Liz Blatchford from the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team, who lost 8 minutes due to 2 drafting penalties, finished third 5:36 behind the winner. In the men's race Denis CHEVROT (FRA: 8:05:57) took the win followed by Patrik NILSSON (SWE: 8:12:10) and Per BITTNER (GER: 8:14:36). Only 2 months after his top 10 finish in Hawaii, Romain GUILLAUME from the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team took fourth after a strong performance in 8:21:14.
read more...What an excellent result for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team, Helle Frederiksen won in spectacular style Challenge Bahrain. In a world-class field, Helle won in an amazing time of 03:55:50, Rachel Joyce (GER) came second 2:25 behind, while Jodie Swallow (GBR), who was leading most of the race, came third 2:49 back. In the men's race, it became a German duel to battle for the win on the flat and fast roads of Bahrain. After a great run, Michael Raelert (GER) won in 03:36:04, Andreas Dreitz (GER) who was outstanding on the bike came second 02:19 back, Tim Reed (AUS) completed the podium 03:22 behind Raelert. Dirk Bockel from the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team had to withdraw halfway through the bike leg due to a recurring hip injury.
read more...It was a master class performance of Liz Blatchford from the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team to win her Challenge debut in Forster. Liz BLATCHFORD (AUS) led from start to finish and won in 04:15:02. Lisa MARANGON came second (AUS: 04:26:02), while Jessica FLEMING finished third (AUS: 04:28:07).
read more...Another great performance of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team, Helle Frederiksen came second in the Challenge Paguera-Mallorca, which is also the European championship half distance. Lisa Hütthaler (AUS), won in 04:25:27, Helle Frederiksen who was leading most of the race came second on 1:54 (DEN; 04:27:21), while Maja Stage Nielsen (DEN; 04:44:17) took bronze and gave Denmark a second European medal.
read more...After a great season for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team with 19 victories and 42 podiums, the team delivered a solid performance in the Ironman World Championship of Hawaii with 5 athletes in the top 12. The race conditions on the Big Island proved its iconic status with the strongest field of contenders and extreme weather today: strong currents, heavy winds and a burning heat. In the men's field, Sebastian Kienle performed the race of his life by blowing away the competition. The 28-year-old German realized his childhood dream with a strong finish in 8:14:18 before - the surprise of the day - Ben Hofman (USA: 8:19:23) and his fellow countryman Jan Frodeno (GER: 8:20:32). Bart Aernouts came 9th in 8:28:28, while the young French man, Romain Guillaume, made the perfect race and pushed himself into the top 10 in the last 3km of the race in 8:30:15. Ronnie Schildknecht had a consistent race and moved up through the race to a top 12 position in 8:33:35. Axel Zeebroek did what he could today, but the legs went after 60k and withdrew from the race. In the women's race, Miranda Carfrae started in T2 11:15 back on Daniela Ryf, like last year she ran an incredible marathon in 2:50:26 - 4 minutes faster than Kienle. Daniela Ryf (SUI: 9:02:57) who was in the lead for 90% of the race had to consolidate for second. Rachel Joyce (GBR: 9:04:23) took the third place. Our Liz Blatchford came 10th after a consistent race. European Champion Corinne Abraham had a difficult swim, a tough bike leg with a penalty, but with the 3rd fastest marathon she managed to get 11th. It was not the day of Sofie Goos, she left the chubby sea much later than expected, the bike went well until 140km but then it was over. Her start of the marathon was slow, it was both conditional and mentally demanding. She did not give up and finished in 42nd position. For the post-race reactions, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cH36hXoQnQ&list=PLro3Y6W3uz771Ox5s9GMg8CF7Qp3nxfKN&index=14
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