Spain's Llanos Wins Debut Abu Dhabi International Triathlon

Written by abudhabitriathlon.com Saturday, 13 March 2010 18:45

In what was an adrenaline-pumping day of racing, Spain's Eneko Llanos and the UK's
Julie Dibens, came out on top to win the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon's 223kms
elite male and female fields and take home the lion's share of the US$250,000 prize
purse.

Spain's Llanos Wins Debut Abu Dhabi International Triathlon
UK's Dibens Lives Up to Favourite Tag To Clinch Female Title

Abu Dhabi, UAE. 13th March 2010: Top male and female elites, Spain's Eneko Llanos
and the UK's Julie Dibens, made history in the United Arab Emirates' capital as they
clinched the maiden US$250,000 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon (ADIT) in emphatic
fashion.

Llanos came from behind to win the 223kms ADIT - which is organised by Abu Dhabi
Tourism Authority (ADTA) - after beating a host of world favourites to finish with a
combined time of 6h34m37 - nearly a minute ahead of second placed Dirk Bockel from
Luxemburg. Whilst Dibens - the current Ironman 70.3 and Xterra Triathlon World
Champion and 70.3 distance world record holder - dominated to clinch a wire-to-wire
victory in the female category, her longest ever race.

Speaking on the finishing line, an ecstatic Llanos, said: "This is my first time
here and everything along the course was stunning from the Emirates Palace to the
Yas Marina Circuit. The distance was a big challenge and I can't believe I am here
today in first place. I will be coming back next year for sure."

And, an overjoyed Dibens, added: "I am very, very happy and exhausted! The course
was great but the distance was too long for me really, which combined with the heat,
made things a little bit difficult. The organisation of the race was great and I am
definitely looking forward to coming back next year."

With the daunting prospect of the 223kms 'pure power' course ahead of the elite
field, the ADIT was always going to be a hotly contested affair. And despite being
51 seconds behind in sixth place at the end of the 200kms city-wide cycling leg,
Llanos dug deep in the finishing 20kms running section to sweep past the tiring
field.

In the opening stages, Llanso was not thought to be a major contender as fastest out
of the blocks in the men's elite long course category was New Zealand's Bryan
Rhodes, who notched up an impressive time of 35m26s in the 3kms swim sprint. And
with only two seconds between Rhodes and second and third placed Belgium duo of Bret
Jammaer and Frederik Van Lierde, it was all to play for going into the gruelling
200kms cycling leg.

The pre-race hype surrounding the ADIT was that the event was going to be decided on
the bike and it looked like it wasn't going to disappoint.

Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon captain, Faris Al Sultan - widely regarded as one of the
world's top cyclists and favourite to win - lived up to his reputation as he put in
the fastest time at Bike Turn 1, just two seconds ahead of Switzerland's Ronnie
Schildknecht.

However, a bike technical issue for Al Sultan saw him lose nearly a minute on the
pack as Germany's Maik Twelsiek and Schildknecht set the pace on Bike Turn 2.

Yet it was fellow Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon stalwart, Andi Boecherer, and title rival
Rasmus Henning from Denmark, who continued to jostle for the lead in the remaining
100kms as the athletes made their way around the stunning Yas Marina Circuit, home
to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, before heading back to the sweeping city Corniche for
the final running leg.

And with many of the elites starting to tire in the Arabian sun, Llanos seized his
opportunity to open up his lead with a storming finishing display. He was followed
in second by Bockel, Henning in third, Fraser Cartmell in fourth and Van Lierde in
fifth, with Al Sultan clawing back to finish in sixth, 3m16s off the pace.

Bockel, despite missing out on top spot, was happy to be in the emirate and said he
would be returning next year: "The course is very unique and the distance is longer
than the races I usually compete in. It is my first time here and I love the city
and the organisers should count me in for ADIT 2011. It is a tough challenge and I
am glad I participated."

Henning was also full of praise for the debut event, and hoped to see it become a
permanent feature on the international triathlon circuit: "The course was fantastic!
The organisers did a great job and the hospitality was excellent. It is definitely a
race that will be around for many years to come and I will be around for it every
year hopefully. Abu Dhabi has the resources and ambition to create such a successful
event and I am happy to be a part of that. I can't believe I was on the Yas Marina
Circuit, I am a huge fan of motor racing and since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, I
wanted to come down and check it out."

Dibens was more confident in her assault on the Abu Dhabi event and never looked
like giving up the lead she so deserved. Despite being tipped as a hot favourite for
the ADIT, Dibens played down her chances before the event, citing the distance as a
major hurdle.

However, after building up a six second lead over fellow countrywoman Leanda Cave,
Dibens continued to exert her dominance in the adrenaline-pumping cycling leg,
stretching her lead to 3m15s over the chasing Briton.

And going into the final running discipline, Dibens looked uncatchable as she
powered home to finish 3m58s ahead of Cave and 9m58s in front of Spain's Virginia
Berasategui Luna in third.

A tired Cave said: "The course was crazy hard especially the bike leg which is where
I really had to push myself through. Abu Dhabi is beautiful though and even though
we were exhausted, I still enjoyed the course. Thank you Abu Dhabi for having me and
see you again next year."

More than 800 athletes from 30 countries, including 75 elites, descended on the
United Arab Emirates' capital this weekend as they looked to win the inaugural ADIT
- the emirate's latest world-class sporting initiative.

And according to ADTA, the event has taken significant steps to establish itself as
an 'instant classic'.

"The successful staging of the ADIT is another feather in the cap for Abu Dhabi's
sporting ambitions and lends significant credibility to our pursuit of establishing
the emirate as a world-class centre of excellence for performance athletics events
and as a leading alternative winter training base for those wanting to enjoy the
warm Abu Dhabi sun and famed hospitality," said Faisal Al Sheikh, Head - Major
Events Division, ADTA.

The ADIT also received strong community support with more than 50 volunteers from
Takatof - a UAE- based social volunteering programme derived from the vision of HH
Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme
Commander of the UAE Armed Forces - taking part in all aspects of the event.

The Takatof volunteers' role centred on welcoming guests, providing customer service
and helping run the overall event.

For further information on ADIT, please go to
www.abudhabitriathlon.com<http://www.abudhabitriathlon.com/>

For more information please contact:
Ryan Bowd
SBI Active
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >
+44 (0) 7931 363 157

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites