Top Names To Race ITU Long Distance Worlds
Australia's Craig Alexander and Melissa Hauschildt highlight the start list.
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After hosting ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Series Events the last four years, Weihai, China will for the first time welcome the discipline at the World Championship level this weekend.
The race will be held over two-lap 4km swim in the ocean, followed by a grueling three-lap hilly and technical 120km bike and will be finished off with a four-lap 20km seaside run. In addition to the elite titles, the event will see age group and paratriathlon races contested.
The men’s race is highlighted by three-time Ironman world champion Craig Alexander (AUS). This will likely serve as a tune-up race for Alexander, who plans to compete at the 2014 Ironman World Championship three weeks later. He’ll face off against France’s Sylvain Sudrie, New Zealand’s Graham O’Grady, France’s Bertrand Billard, Australia’s Greg Bennett and others. (See the men’s start list here.)
In the women’s race, the top names include two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion Melissa Hauschildt, Denmark’s Camilla Pedersen and the United States’ Laura Bennett. (See the women’s start list here.)