Hungary Hosts Latest Round Of Triathlon WC

Kiwis will be out in force at Tiszaujvaros in Hungary for the sixth round of the ITU World Cup season this weekend with the majority of New Zealand’s ‘potential squad’ and younger triathletes looking to gain valuable experience and world ranking points ahead of the final two World Champ Series events in Kitzbühel and Budapest.

With the likes of Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Andrea Hewitt, Kate McIlroy and Debbie Tanner not racing as they prepare for Kitzbuhel in another week, the spotlight falls on James Elvery, Tony Dodds, Callum Millward, Ben Pattle, Dylan McNeice and young Tom Davison in the men’s race and Teresa Adam and Rebecca Kingsford in the women’s.

Tony Dodds (click to enlarge)

Both Dodds and Davison are looking for further racing experience as they prepare for the Elite U23 race at the Budapest World Championships next month, with Dodds looking to go at least one better than his fourth place finish on the Gold Coast last year and pick up a rare age group medal for New Zealand. The Wanaka triathlete is in good form having won a Bundesliga race in Offenburg last weekend, in the process defeating former World Champion Daniel Unger and well performed Frenchman Frederick Belaubre.

Elvery and Millward meanwhile are chasing vital points to secure starts in the final World Champs Series race of the year in Budapest. Elvery is pleased with his fitness coming into this weekend’s race.

“For me this weekend is all about having another solid race, getting some ITU points in the bank and hopefully nailing down a start in the Elite race at the Budapest Grand Final in 6 weeks,” said Elvery. “I've been at altitude in Font Romeu for a long time, training has gone well and I'm in good shape. I just need to get through this weekend and also next weekend in Geneva, so I can spend the last 4 weeks preparing for my best performance in Budapest.”

In the women’s race both Teresa Adam and Rebecca Kingsford are in a similar situation to that of Dodds and Davison in the men’s as both look to gain vital experience ahead of their participation in the elite U23 race at the World Championships in Budapest next month.

This Sunday marks the 14th consecutive year that “Tiszy”, as it’s often referred to, has hosted a World Cup. The event is renowned for having some of the best spectator support on the World Cup circuit, as thousands of locals jam the streets year after year to catch some of the action.

ITU World Cup Tiszaujvaros, Hungary

All race times are NZT