Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team’s Pete Jacobs and Andi Böcherer made a strong statement regarding their Ironman World Championship credentials as they grabbed separate victories over a strong field of world-class athletes and varying climate conditions in the Philippines and Germany this weekend.

Winning Ironman 70.3 Philippines, his first-ever Ironman 70.3 title, Australia’s Jacobs powered through the hot and humid weather at the CamSur Watersports Complex in the Philippines with a time of 3h58m41s. He was seven minutes ahead of runner-up Torenzo Bozzone of New Zealand – a four-time Ironman 70.3 event winner and pre-race favourite – who clocked 4h5m54s. Third place went to Fredrik Croneborg of Sweden, with a time of 4h14m36s.

“This victory has given me the confidence and belief in my training, as well as my resistance to hot and humid conditions,” said Jacobs, who became part of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)-backed elite athletic team only this year. “I had a slow start to the season following surgery to repair a broken collarbone I suffered while in training sometime in March. However, it now appears that I am getting in the best shape at the right time.

“As I go home and continue my preparations for Hawaii, I am also looking forward to coming back to the Philippines next year to defend the title at my favourite Ironman 70.3 event,” Jacobs added.

In Germany, Böcherer followed his runner-up finish to teammate and Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team captain Faris Al Sultan at the inaugural Ironman Regensburg barely three weeks ago, with an emphatic win at Triathlon Viernheim.

In a head-to-head battle against fellow German Timo Bracht, the 2009 European Ironman Champion and last month’s runner-up at the Ironman Frankfurt event, Böcherer’s winning time of 2h10m38s eventually put Bracht five minutes off the pace by the race end. In third place was another German, Felix Schumann, who finished eight minutes behind Böcherer.

“I was a bit surprised with my victory as I was not feeling well a day before the race,” said Böcherer, an Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team founding member. “And during the race, I also didn’t feel that I would be that fast.

“I am happy with this win as it provides a big morale booster in my preparations for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii this October. This win is also a fitting follow-up to Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team’s string of victories lately. The outfit’s impressive performance in the latter part of the year is reflective of the calibre of athletes that Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team is really made of. I’m sure the rest of the field will be watching out for us in Hawaii,” Böcherer added.

A third Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team member, Jan van Berkel of the Netherlands, raced with a Dutch team at the ITU Team Triathlon World Championships in Lausanne over the weekend, finishing 17th overall. The event was won by the home team of Switzerland, with France and New Zealand finishing second and third respectively.

Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team, created by ADTA to further the emirate’s performance athletics’ credentials globally, will compete in more than 40 top international events this season, including the Ironman and 70.3 series and the French Championships.

To date, five of the six-person outfit have qualified for the Hawaiian Ironman showpiece, including captain Al Sultan, Böcherer, Jacobs, Swen Sundberg and Rachel Joyce, who finished in the top 10 at last year’s event.
 

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