Aiming to dominate the triathlon world in 2010, Specialized has launched its first-ever comprehensive triathlon team, with multiple athletes in each of the three major specialties: Long Course, Short Course, and XTERRA.
Hand selected by Bobby Behan, Specialized Global Marketing Manager for MTB and Triathlon, the team athletes include decorated veterans through to young, upstart pros.
“It’s super exciting to be instrumental in the construction of this star-studded global team, many of which have inspired my own triathlon career,” said Behan. “Collectively, the team has won every major title in triathlon from the Olympic Games to world titles in ITU, Ironman and XTERRA.”
Long Course Triathlon Team
Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack
Rasmus Henning
Philip Graves
Jordan Rapp
Desiree Ficker
Peter Reid
The Long Course team will ride the new S-Works Shiv and S-Works. Long Course standouts Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack, the 2007 World Ironman and 1997 ITU World Champion; Peter Reid, three-time Ironman World Champion; and Desiree Ficker, 2008 Ironman South Africa 70.3 champ, have all returned.
“It is a great honour to represent the big S around the globe,” said Peter Reid, long time Specialized ambassador and athlete. “For more than 10 years I’ve been like the kid in the candy shop – my candy shop being Specialized, of course.”
Short Course Triathlon Team
Javier Gomez
Simon Whitfield
Lisa Norden
Gavin Noble
Specialized will also be diving head first into short course – a timely entry with the London Olympic Games only two years away. “The Olympic Games is the world’s greatest sporting event, and the athletes competing in ITU triathlon are the ultimate testament to the athleticism that defines the Games,” said Behan.
Racing on the new S-Works Tarmac SL3 and S-Works Amira bikes, the new squad will include: Olympic gold and silver medallist Simon Whitfield; Multiple World Cup winner and former World Champion Javier Gomez; and former World U23 Champion and current second-ranked woman, Lisa Norden.
Norden and Gomez are looking forward to their new toys and the benefits of a major sponsor. “My new Specialized S Works SL3 is so light,” said Gomez. “You really feel that all your power is transferred directly to the bike, and you don’t waste anything. And of course, it’s beautiful!” Norden added, “Having someone at the race site looking after me and my equipment is huge – it’s new to me and the sport.”
ITU Development Team
Leonardo Chacon Corrales
Barbara Riveros
Abrahm Louw
Just as committed to grass-roots level racing as its international stars, Specialized has also teamed up with ITU Development Director Libby Burrell in support of the ITU Scholarship Programme. Responsible for fostering the rise of stars such as Norden, the programme was created, in part, to support national federations and regions where there are limited human and financial resources.
XTERRA Triathlon Team
Conrad Stoltz
Dan Hugo
Melanie McQuaid
Of course the team wouldn’t be complete without Specialized veteran athlete Conrad ‘The Caveman’ Stoltz or Melanie McQuaid – both three-time World XTERRA Champions and both hungry for another podium. They are joined by Stolz’s fellow South African and upcoming XTERRA athlete Dan Hugo. All will be outfitted with S-Works Epic and S-Works Epic 29er bikes.
“I’m really excited to be part of such a diverse group of triathletes,” said Stoltz. “Being part of a team feels really good; it’s only logical to have such a phenomenal group riding the best bicycles out there.”
www.specialized.com
www.triathlonteam.org/specialized-triathlon-team
