TRIATHLON

World Cup circuit returns to 'Tiszy' for the 21th year

By International Triathlon Union

ITU World Cup season continues this weekend with the seventh stop of the fifteen-part World Cup calendar arriving to the iconic Hungarian town of Tiszaujvaros. Over the last 21 years, the epic festival atmosphere in Tiszy has become a beloved stop on the World Cup circuit among athletes and spectators alike.

Tiszy, an small town located in the north of Hungary, is of the longest running World Cups in ITU history. Part of a week-long party, the race is a favorite for many top athletes for the cheering crowds, the sunny weather and the thrilling, fast and furious format of semi-finals and finals.

On Saturday, 77 men and 53 women will take the stake on the streets of Tiszy, to go for a sprint race that will get the best 30 of each gender on Sunday’s finals.

Athletes will have to complete three laps around the warm and sunny lake of Tiszy for a 750m swim, followed by two laps of 10 km each on their bikes, on a flat circuit, to finish with a 5km run on the city center, to much delight of the local crowds.

Men’s Preview
The first semifinal will be the less crowded, with 25 triathletes lining on the pontoon for the start, and some really strong names in contest. Last year’s winner, Dmitry Polyanskyi, will have bib number 1, and he will have some very strong athletes on his leg, including local heroes Tamas Tóth -third in Tiszy last year- and Bence Bicsák. Some other names on the first semi-final include Stefan Zacheus, who has been racing in Tiszy for the last few years with solid results, and one of the British rising stars in Sprint distance, Douglas Roberts.

Some usual names on the WTS start lists will appear in the second semi-final in Tiszy, such as Italians Alessandro Fabianand Massimo de Ponti or Canadian Matthew Sharpe. Along with them, some other contestants to make it to the final will be Luciano Taccone, or Manoel Messias.

The current U23 Aquathlon World Champion, Jonas Schomburg -now racing under the ITU flag- will be one of the ones to watch on the third semi final this Saturday. Other strong names on this leg will be Australians Marcel Walkington and Kenji Nener, Canadian Charles Paquet or the kiwi Tayler Reid.
The first nine athlete to cross the finish line on each semi-final, plus the three best times, will make it to the final on Sunday.

Women’s preview
Winner of last year’s edition, American Renee Tomlin, will be for sure one of the clear favorites for this year’s race. Coming from some really strong performances this season and straight from WTS Hamburg, where she finished in 7th position, Tomlin will perform on a quite crowded semi-final, with 28 athletes, including Elena Danilova (RUS), Vanessa de la Torre (MEX) or Ilaria Zane (ITA).

On the second semi-final, another American will try her best to make it to the final in good shape: Erin Dolan. She will have some other big names on her leg, as Russian Anastasia Abrosimova or Estonian Kaidi Kivioja. Spaniards Anna Godoy Contreras and Ines Contreras, both coming from racing in WTS Hamburg, will also be candidates to show strong performances, as will the Italian and the Hungarian “army”, with more three triathletes vying for a spot on the final.
 
ABOUT THE RACE: 
Now in its 21th year, Tiszaujvaros is just two hours from Budapest and thanks to its status as the second longest running ITU event, is known as the triathlon capital of Hungary. The World Cup has one of the best atmospheres of any on the ITU calendar and is a summer tradition in Tiszaujvaros, as the event has a festival like atmosphere. ITU legends like Emma Carney, Hamish Carter, Loretta Harrop and Javier Gomez have all topped the podium at the event.

SCHEDULE:
Elite Women
Semi-finals - Saturday 22 July - from 15:32 (UTC/GMT +2)  Click here for time in your area 
Final - Sunday 23 July - 15:45 Click here for time in your area

Elite Men 
Semi-finals - Saturday 22 July from 16:21 (UTC/GMT +2) Click here for time in your area
Final - Sunday 23 July - 17:10 Click here for time in your area

WEBSITES:
http://www.tvkmalitriatlon.hu/en/

START LISTS:
Click here for the women's start list 
Click here for the men's start list 

PRIZE MONEY:
$60,000 USD (equal for men & women)  

LIVE COVERAGE:
Live broadcasting and live timing from Tiszaujvaros Finals will be available on race day at triathlon.org/live, on World Triathlon Facebook account and at @triathlonlive on Twitter.

COURSE PROFILE:
SEMI FINALS 
Swim - 750m - Three laps of a 250m swim circuit with a pontoon start, wetsuits are not expected
Bike - 20km - Two laps of a mostly flat circuit
Run - 5km - Three laps of a most flat and fast run
Click here for a course map

FINALS
Swim - 750m - Three laps of a 250m swim circuit with a pontoon start, wetsuits are not expected
Bike - 20km - Eight laps of a mostly flat course
Run - 5km - Four laps of a mostly flat and fast run course
Click here for a course map 

FORMAT:
The event will be decided over two days, with sprint distance semifinals held on Saturday and then a sprint distance final on the Sunday. On the Men's races, the first nine athlete to cross the finish line on each semi final, plus the three best times, will make it to the final on Sunday. On the Women's field, 14 best athletes of each semi-final will make it to the Final, plus the two best times. 

Past Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup winners   
              WOMEN                                                         MEN 
2016    Renée Tomlin (USA)                                Dmitry Polyanskiy (RUS)
2015    Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (AUS)                     Igor Polyanskiy (RUS)
2014    Rachel Klamer (NED)                               Akos Vanek (HUN)
2013     Katie Hursey (USA)                                 Florin Salvisberg (SUI)
2012     Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)                             Pierre LeCorre (FRA) 
2011     Gwen Jorgensen (USA)                            Brent McMahon (CAN)
2010     Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR)                         Reinaldo Colucci (BRA)
2009     Kate McIlroy (NZL)                                 Dmitry Polyanskiy (RUS)
2008     Andrea Whitcombe (GBR)                        Javier Gomez (ESP)
2007     Samantha Warriner (NZL)                        Javier Gomez (ESP)
2006     Joelle Franzmann (GER)                           Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS)
2005     Annabel Luxford (AUS)                            Dmitriy Gaag (KAZ)
2004     Anja Dittmer (GER)                                Shane Reed (NZL)
2003     Anja Dittmer (GER)                                Volodymyr Polikarpenko (UKR)                   
2002     Siri Lindley (USA)                                   Craig Walton (AUS)
2001     Siri Lindley (USA)                                   Martin Krnavek (CZE)
2000     Loretta Harrop (AUS)                             Martin Krnavek (CZE)
1999     Loretta Harrop (AUS)                             Hamish Carter (NZL)
1998     Loretta Harrop (AUS)                             Hamish Carter (NZL)
1997     Emma Carney (AUS)                             Craig Walton (AUS)