The latest release from Zipp Speed Weaponry notes that ‘20 years after Zipp’s first win at Kona, we closed out 2010 with victories from Mirinda Carfrae and Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack on the sport’s most hallowed ground.’
The wheels, bars, stems and cranks specialist is rolling into the 2011 triathlon season ‘with some serious momentum – along with many of the best professional athletes in the sport.’
Zipp has stepped up its commitment to Specialized’s growing triathlon program. Defending Olympic champion Jan Frodeno has recently joined the roster, where he’ll race alongside none other than Macca himself – who recently announced a switch to short-course racing ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London.
Meanwhile, 2010 Challenge Roth winner Rasmus Henning, veteran Desiree Ficker, and comeback kid Jordan Rapp will look to deliver the long-course results for Specialized.
Some of their toughest competition will come from another Zipp and SRAM-sponsored program, Team Commerzbank. Led by the legendary Normann Stadler, this squad features one of the sport’s most promising talents in Marino Vanhoenacker, who last year posted the fastest Iron-distance time since 1999 and finished third in Kona.
Meanwhile, Zipp’s support for individual athletes is as strong as ever. ‘We’re excited to be a part of Rinny’s season as the reigning [Ironman] world champion.’ Zipp will also be keeping an eye on, and lending a hand to, Terenzo Bozzone and Luke McKenzie, among others.
And for Zipp’s short-course athletes, the build-up to London 2012 is well under-way. Defending Olympic champ Emma Snowsill is certainly in for a challenge from the likes of American hopefuls Jenna Shoemaker and Sarah Haskins.
And the company expects to see the Brownlee brothers, and Zipp sponsored athletes, Alistair and Jonathan, reach new heights ahead of their home-country Olympics.
For the growing list of Zipp sponsored professional triathletes visit zipp.com/athletes.
