Posted: June 9, 2007

Triathlon: Whitfield leads Canadian Triathletes on home soil

VANCOUVER - This Sunday, June 10th, over one hundred of the world’s top triathletes will take to the start line in the 2007 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Cup. Leading a strong Canadian contingent of 11 athletes is Sydney Olympic Games gold medalist Simon Whitfield of Victoria. Whitfield, who is fourth on the all-time world cup winners list, has not won a world cup since 2004 but is the pre-race favourite going into Sunday. In the women’s event, top-ranked Lauren Groves of Vancouver is a medal hopeful with a break-through season in 2006 where Groves achieved multiple top-10 world cup finishes and a fourth place at the 2006 triathlon world championships. Canadians competing in the 2007 Vancouver BG Triathlon World Cup are: Simon Whitfield (Victoria, BC) – 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, current world #18 Paul Tichelaar (Edmonton, AB) – 2006 Pan American Champion, current world #29 Brent McMahon (Victoria, BC) – 2004 Olympian, current world #35 Kyle Jones (Oakville, ON) – current world #56 (tie) Colin Jenkins (Hamilton, ON) – current world #56 (tie) Jordan Bryden (Calgary, AB) – Team Canada development athlete Andrew McCartney – First World Cup Andre Paul Baillargeon – First World Cup Lauren Groves Vancouver, BC) – 4th 2006 triathlon world championships, current world #41 Jill Savege (Penticton, BC) – 2004 Olympian, 3 career World Cup wins, current world #24 Ayesha Rollinson (Toronto, ON) The ocean-side city will host athletes from 30 countries and all five continents as they try to swim-bike-run for their share of the US$100,000 prize purse and valuable Olympic qualifying points on the line. The start list tells the story of young and old, with many up-and-coming athletes racing amongst their idols. Current and past Olympic champions Kate Allen of Austria and Simon Whitfield of Canada lead a stellar group of former Olympians, national and world cup champions as they compete against the rising stars of the sport. Event page. Start lists. For general triathlon information: Triathlon.org.