The world’s top male elites are in the final stages of preparation as all attention turns to the 2012 season opening Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in 10 days’ time, as the globe’s best look to snatch away the coveted title from returning champion Frederik Van Lierdre.

Making his Middle East debut, and leading the charge for the March 3rd event, is Chris Lieto, the American with the outstanding reputation as the ‘fastest man on a bike’. Lieto has completed 80 triathlons and notched up 15 victories, including three Ironman wins and three top 10 finishes at the World Championship in Hawaii, including a second place in 2009.

Known for his strength and skill on two wheels, Lieto recently underlined his reputation with a stunning 4:25:10 bike leg at the Ironman World Championships – an achievement that will put him in pole position as he debuts on Abu Dhabi’s unique 200km bike course.

Lieto said, “I am very excited to race Abu Dhabi this year. I am usually not prepared in my fitness this early in the year but I have decided to up my training and put in the miles to be ready. I just finished Ironman 70.3 Panama as a preparation race and good signs of my fitness are showing. I have a couple of weeks to fine tune some things and I feel I will be ready to contend for a win at Abu Dhabi.”
Current Abu Dhabi title holder Van Lierdre, who snatched overall victory in the 223kms ‘pure power’ course last year with a combined time of 6h:43:14 - a winning margin of just 18 seconds over compatriot Marino Vanhoenacker – hopes his gruelling winter training programme will give him the edge of the chasing American.

"Abu Dhabi is for me the perfect event to get motivated through winter! It’s such a great event in a wonderful setting. Since the beginning of December I have spent four training camps preparing for Abu Dhabi. With the ice cold temperatures we have had in Belgium I even managed to do a four hour bike ride on my ergo-trainer, a new personal record and that’s all because of Abu Dhabi! I’ll be as ready as I can be to defend my title," said the Belgium champion.

Hot on his heels will be a string of contenders, all with the skill and determination to clinch victory in the UAE capital showpiece. Double Abu Dhabi podium finisher Dirk Bockel and five times World Cup winner Rasmus Henning have got the on-course experience to run a smart and strategic race.

Hailing from Luxemburg, Bockel has been within a stride of Abu Dhabi glory twice, finishing in third and second place. This year he is back stronger than ever after joining the cycling team Leopard Trek and training with top Tour de France contenders. Henning will also be back with vengeance after his Abu Dhabi dreams were dashed by cramps early on the bike course last year, a disappointing finish after coming third in the inaugural event.

Other big hitters include first year champion Eneko Llandos, plus Clayton Fettell, Andrew Starykowicz, Fraser Cartmell, Luke Bell, James Cunnama and Leon Griffin.

Rounding off the men’s field from local crack-endurance squad Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team are captain Faris Al-Sultan, Swen Sundberg and new additions Paul Ambrose, Maik Tweisiek and Jeremy Jurkiewicz.

The male elites lead a the largest-ever Abu Dhabi field, which has seen close to 1,700 athletes from 67 countries sign up to contest to the UAE capital event. This year’s event now has entrants from every inhabited continent and has seen strong growth from non-traditional triathlon markets and areas where the sport is still emerging such as Russia, up an outstanding 513%, Italy by 92% and Turkey by a staggering 560%.

The 2012 event, which has a revamped city course to meet demand, also sees first time entries from Argentina, Azerbaijan, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Iceland, India, Japan, Lebanon, Macao, Poland, Portugal, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago and Zimbabwe.

The multicultural event continues to receive strong interest from the local market with a year-on-year increase of 20% in GCC participation to date. The Arab peninsula is currently represented by 815 athletes from the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Internationally the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and Denmark are leading the registration polls.

For 2012, the race offers a selection of distances to accommodate athletes of all abilities. The 223km ‘long course’ boasts a 3km swim, a 200km cycle and 20km closing run - the same distances as the world class elite. Newcomers can choose to tackle the ‘short’ course at half the length, with a 1.5km swim, a 100km cycle and a 10 km run.

The sprint course offers a 750m swim, a 50km bike and 5km run. Both the short and sprint distance also offer the option of a relay entry, encouraging like-minded friends, families and colleagues to take up the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon challenge.

The unique course offers the sport’s most picturesque setting; starting in a clear blue lagoon, biking on the famous Yas Marina Circuit, home to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and then ending on the sweeping shores of the Corniche.

Key Men’s field
Andi Boecherer (GER)
Andrew Starykowicz (USA)
Bryan McCrystal (IRE)
Bryan Rhodes (NZ)
Chris Lieto (USA)
Clayton Fettell (AUS)
Dan Halksworth (UK)
Dirk Bockel (LUX)
Eneko Llanos (SPA)
Erich Wegscheider (USA)
Faris Al-Sultan (Team AD) (GER)
Fraser Cartmell (SCO)
Frederik Van Lierde (BEL)
James Cunnama (AUS)
Jeremy Jurkiewicz (Team AD) (GER)
Johann Ackermann (FRA)
Jo Spindler (GER)
Leon Griffin (AUS)
Luke Bell (AUS)
Maik Twelsiek (Team AD)
Michael Davidson (SA)
Niclas Bock (GER)
Nicolas Munoz (ESP)
Paul Ambrose (Team AD)
Rasmus Henning (DEN)
Sam Hsieh (Short Distance) (TAI)
Stephen Bayliss (UK)
Swen Sundenberg (Team AD) (GER)
More to be announced...

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