The duel is set for this weekend - make that August 30-31 - in Almere, The Netherlands which is hosting the ITU Long Distance World Championships.
It will be the last big race for both athletes before Kona in October.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Interview: Yvonne van Vlerken
In conversation with Yvonne van Vlerken
By Timothy Moore
8/5/2008
For the first time in any iron-distance event, four women finished in less than 9 hours in Roth, Germany on July 13.
What’s more, in a matter of just eight days last month, on three different race courses in Europe, eight of the world’s best iron-women confirmed their membership in the elite Sub Nine Club. They have set the stage for the fastest starting line ever in Kona this October.
The race in Roth marked the third time in 12 months that Yvonne van Vlerken crossed a iron finish line in less than 9 hours. Her unexpected approach of the world record in Roth in 2007 - she was 1 minute and 2 seconds off the mark - can rightly be seen as a catalyst for the recent surge in speed among the women’s field.
In fact, the women in Team TBB - among them Chrissie Wellington, Erika Csomor and Belinda Granger - help motivate themselves in training with thoughts of putting `Yvonne VV` in her place. It’s a huge compliment to what van Vlerken has accomplished.
Including her iron debut in Roth in 2007, van Vlerken has won three iron-distance races, and she was second in her fourth, which came early in her season when, as she says, her top priority was to secure a spot to Kona.
While new to iron-distance racing, the 29-year-old has a very solid race CV including a World Duathlon Championship in 2006. She has raced and won events across Europe for more than six years. She’s preparing now for the ITU World Long-Course Championship which is being held in Almere, The Netherlands later this month.
Van Vlerken was surprised by her performance in Roth in 2007. She wasn’t aware how close she had been to Paula Newby-Fraser’s record. She didn’t intend to repeat that mistake.
"I didn’t feel any pressure. I was confident that I could win,’’ she says of her preparation for Roth a month ago. "I just knew that I could win and break the world record.’’
By Timothy Moore
8/5/2008
For the first time in any iron-distance event, four women finished in less than 9 hours in Roth, Germany on July 13.
What’s more, in a matter of just eight days last month, on three different race courses in Europe, eight of the world’s best iron-women confirmed their membership in the elite Sub Nine Club. They have set the stage for the fastest starting line ever in Kona this October.
The race in Roth marked the third time in 12 months that Yvonne van Vlerken crossed a iron finish line in less than 9 hours. Her unexpected approach of the world record in Roth in 2007 - she was 1 minute and 2 seconds off the mark - can rightly be seen as a catalyst for the recent surge in speed among the women’s field.
In fact, the women in Team TBB - among them Chrissie Wellington, Erika Csomor and Belinda Granger - help motivate themselves in training with thoughts of putting `Yvonne VV` in her place. It’s a huge compliment to what van Vlerken has accomplished.
Including her iron debut in Roth in 2007, van Vlerken has won three iron-distance races, and she was second in her fourth, which came early in her season when, as she says, her top priority was to secure a spot to Kona.
While new to iron-distance racing, the 29-year-old has a very solid race CV including a World Duathlon Championship in 2006. She has raced and won events across Europe for more than six years. She’s preparing now for the ITU World Long-Course Championship which is being held in Almere, The Netherlands later this month.
Van Vlerken was surprised by her performance in Roth in 2007. She wasn’t aware how close she had been to Paula Newby-Fraser’s record. She didn’t intend to repeat that mistake.
"I didn’t feel any pressure. I was confident that I could win,’’ she says of her preparation for Roth a month ago. "I just knew that I could win and break the world record.’’
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
What matters the most?
Already a debate has begun about who holds the real world record. It's a moot point.
Yvonne van Vlerken is now the fastest ironwoman on the planet. Period. She shouldn't be denied that accolade.
There should be no debate about whether it was or wasn't a WTC event. [There are some people who view the times set in Kona as the only ones worth recording.]
There are always going to be differences in terms of courses, the conditions and also the effect of having more or less athletes competing at the same time. But the distance is indisputable.
Eight athletes recorded Sub9 times in eight days this month, starting with Chrissie Wellington at Ironman Germany in Frankfurt on July 6 and ending with Belinda Granger at Roth, also in Germany, on July 13.
This rush to the line wasn't as sudden as it might appear, nor should it be dismissed anytime soon. It's a huge accomplishment and a great development for triathlon.
The depth of the women's field is greater now than it ever has been and the level of competition is as high as it ever has been.
Without a doubt there are comparisons to the races between Paula Newby-Fraser and Erin Baker. Each pushed each other to their personal limits and then a bit further. But it wouldn't be fair to these two legends of the sport nor to the athletes of today to dwell on who's the best based simply on time.
Newby-Fraser and Baker excelled at the highest level year in and year out and it's that consistency that makes them legends.
That's why in any sport, an era is defined as a period of time.
The current women's field entered a new era last year when van Vlerken in her rookie ironman event at Roth almost set a new world record. What she accomplished then was to inject confidence in herself, and among her competitors, to reset the goalposts. With her time on Sunday, she now has gone Sub9 three times in a year. She'll make her Kona debut this October.
Wellington's unexpected win in Kona, and her four ironman wins in as many races are another point of definition.
These athletes are just the tip of the iceberg.
Hawaii is poised to be one very exciting race this year.
Yvonne van Vlerken is now the fastest ironwoman on the planet. Period. She shouldn't be denied that accolade.
There should be no debate about whether it was or wasn't a WTC event. [There are some people who view the times set in Kona as the only ones worth recording.]
There are always going to be differences in terms of courses, the conditions and also the effect of having more or less athletes competing at the same time. But the distance is indisputable.
Eight athletes recorded Sub9 times in eight days this month, starting with Chrissie Wellington at Ironman Germany in Frankfurt on July 6 and ending with Belinda Granger at Roth, also in Germany, on July 13.
This rush to the line wasn't as sudden as it might appear, nor should it be dismissed anytime soon. It's a huge accomplishment and a great development for triathlon.
The depth of the women's field is greater now than it ever has been and the level of competition is as high as it ever has been.
Without a doubt there are comparisons to the races between Paula Newby-Fraser and Erin Baker. Each pushed each other to their personal limits and then a bit further. But it wouldn't be fair to these two legends of the sport nor to the athletes of today to dwell on who's the best based simply on time.
Newby-Fraser and Baker excelled at the highest level year in and year out and it's that consistency that makes them legends.
That's why in any sport, an era is defined as a period of time.
The current women's field entered a new era last year when van Vlerken in her rookie ironman event at Roth almost set a new world record. What she accomplished then was to inject confidence in herself, and among her competitors, to reset the goalposts. With her time on Sunday, she now has gone Sub9 three times in a year. She'll make her Kona debut this October.
Wellington's unexpected win in Kona, and her four ironman wins in as many races are another point of definition.
These athletes are just the tip of the iceberg.
Hawaii is poised to be one very exciting race this year.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Eight Days in July
These results are the eight athletes who recorded Sub9 times from July 6 to July 13 at three races in Europe: Ironman Germany, Ironman Austria and Quelle Roth Challenge.
*For a larger image, click on the table
*For a larger image, click on the table
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Quelle Challenge Roth
Yvonne van Vlerken, Erika Csomor, Gina Ferguson and Belinda Granger broke the 9-hour mark at Quelle Challenge Roth in Germany.
Van Vlerken has set a new standard for iron-distance racing with her 8:45.48 clocking.
Csomor went 8:47:05, Ferguson 8:57:18 and Granger 8:58:08.
Van Vlerken has set a new standard for iron-distance racing with her 8:45.48 clocking.
Csomor went 8:47:05, Ferguson 8:57:18 and Granger 8:58:08.
Ironman Austria
At Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt, Sandra Wallenhorst went 8:47:26, Bella Comerford 8:51:17 and Edith Niederfriniger 8:59:45.
For a short period of time Wallenhorst was the world record holder.
For a short period of time Wallenhorst was the world record holder.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wellington 8:51:24
At Ironman Germany in Frankfurt, Chrissie Wellington won her fourth straight ironman race and came within a whisker of setting a new world record.
She led from start to finish, crossing the line about 26 minutes ahead of her next competitor.
Instead of racing to the line, she slowed during the final stretch to celebrate.
She led from start to finish, crossing the line about 26 minutes ahead of her next competitor.
Instead of racing to the line, she slowed during the final stretch to celebrate.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Wellington - a tough athlete
Chrissie Wellington has been named to the Sports Illustrated list of toughest athletes. She's 10th and the toughest woman.
SI
SI
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Lawn wins 6th NZ
Jo Lawn won her sixth Ironman New Zealand on Saturday and she did so in dramatic style.
After taking control of the race during the bike, her strength, she saw her about four minute lead at the start of the run evaporate by the 28km mark when Aussie Kate Bevilaqua caught her.
The two women ran side by side for about 10km, with each trying to press ahead at various times only to have their move countered.
At about the 38km mark, heading back into Taupo, Lawn dug deep and Bevilaqua wasn't able to respond. Lawn kept pushing and crossed the line in 9:16:00 to set a new course record.
In her immediate post-race comments, Lawn said there was no way she would have been able to push herself as hard as she did if it hadn't been for Bevilaqua running at her side.
After taking control of the race during the bike, her strength, she saw her about four minute lead at the start of the run evaporate by the 28km mark when Aussie Kate Bevilaqua caught her.
The two women ran side by side for about 10km, with each trying to press ahead at various times only to have their move countered.
At about the 38km mark, heading back into Taupo, Lawn dug deep and Bevilaqua wasn't able to respond. Lawn kept pushing and crossed the line in 9:16:00 to set a new course record.
In her immediate post-race comments, Lawn said there was no way she would have been able to push herself as hard as she did if it hadn't been for Bevilaqua running at her side.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)