Page 18 - Trimax_mag162_pagesuk

REPORT
champion and Olympic gold medalist
Stuart O’Grady. Triathlon greats
Spencer Smith and Brad Bevan
were given a special role to lead
the Triple Mix Stage 2 opening run
through the neutral zone. Beijing
Olympic triathlon gold medalist
Emma Snowsill-Frodeno was part of
the studio commentating team, and
three-time Tour de France green
jersey winner Robbie McEwen acted
as on-course commentator and led
Triple Mix Stage 3’s opening bike leg
through its first lap. Multiple Ironman
70.3 champion Sarah Crowley flew
in from her base in Brisbane just to
watch a new era dawn in triathlon.
Hamilton Island’s climate and topography played
a major role in the race weekend’s dynamics with
athletes coming from cooler climes struggling in
the heat and humidity, and Ireland’s Ben Shaw
Super League Triathlon founders Leonid
Boguslavsky, Michael D’Hulst, Chris McCormack
18
Murray victorieux
(#73) crashing twice on the technical bike course.
Its native wildlife also came to join the action, with
a wallaby bounding up One Tree Hill in the middle
of the Equalizer individual time trial.
In all, Super League Hamilton Island was deemed
a smashing success, with future races in the series
already in the works. Super League Triathlon co-
founders Chris McCormack, Michael D’Hulst, and
Leonid Boguslavsky were extremely pleased with
the positive reception.
Boguslavsky praised the race organization team
headed by Shane Smith and the media content
team led by Trent Taylor. “All athletes appreciated
how they were treated, including consultation on
aspects of the event, and audiences loved what
they saw on TV and online,” he said.
D’Hulst added, “I’m excited to see our vision come to
life and this wouldn’t have been possible without the
support of a very passionate and committed team and
partners. Super League Hamilton Island put us on the
map to begin a revolution of the sport from athletes for
athletes!”
McCormack concluded, “We want triathlon to be
exciting, innovative, and entertaining -- this is critical
for any sport’s survival in this era. I believe Super
League Triathlon will lead the way for professional
triathlon racing in this capacity. That is what we set out
to do with Super League Triathlon, we accomplished
that on Hamilton Island, and this is only the beginning.”