2016 Long Distance Duathlon World titles to be decided

For the sixth consecutive year and the ninth time in history, the ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships will be decided in the small and scenic Swiss town of Zofingen on Sunday, September 4. Defending two-time world champions Emma Pooley (GBR) and Gaël Le Bellec (FRA) will each return in attempts to repeat as the fastest duathletes in the world. The grueling race is set over a challenging 10km run, 150km bike, 30km run distance that includes a steep climb on the bike and hills at the beginning of each run lap.

Women’s Preview
In the women’s race, anything other than a third world championship title for Emma Pooley would be a surprise. When asked about her goal for Zofingen, the Brit who lives near Zürich, just said, “victory”.

Pooley, who recorded a course record in Zofingen lat year and is an Olympic cycling medallist, just finished her second trip to the Olympics. In Rio, she she competed in the cycling time trial, again showing her talent on the bike having done a load of leading work in the beginning of the road race.

Behind the British woman is German Julia Viellehner, the Dane Susanne Svendsen, the Swiss Nina Brenn and two newcomers in Airi Sawada (JPN) and Miriam Van Reijen (NED) making it a competitive field racing for the podium. This year in Zofingen, Eva Nyström will sit out the race as she recently became a mother for the second time in May.

Click here for the women’s start list

Men’s Preview
In the men’s race, anything is possible with returning champion Gaël Le Bellec saying, “A place on the podium would be great this year.”

The Dane Søren Bystrup and the Belgian Seppe Odeyn will want to steal the title from Le Bellec. After his break last year, the Frenchman Yannick Cadalen is back on the start list in Zofingen.

“The level on the cycling track with Gaël Le Bellec, Søren Bystrup, Seppe Odeyn and hopefully with me is very high and this makes a prognosis for the world championship title especially difficult. May the best win,” said Bystrup.

Always good for a surprise is the Australian Thomas Bruins who will start in Zofingen for the first time. This spring he easily beat Le Bellec at the Powerman Malaysia race. Just recently, Switzerland’s Andreas Sutz decided to line up for the World Championship event. Because of big problems with his hips, the winner of the Powerman Zofingen in 2008 and 2010 only came into race form a few weeks ago.

Click here for the men’s start list

Start times
The women will kick off the World Championship activity at 8:00am CET on Sunday, September 4 followed by the men at 9:00am.