Barrelman pro field adds excitement to Sunday’s race
The Niagara Falls Barrelman Triathlon takes place this coming Sunday September 21st, and adding to the excitement of this first-time event is the assembled professional/elite field.
Leading the way on the men’s side is Lionel Sanders.
Lionel Sanders with the win last weekend at Lakeside.
He recently finished fourth at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship with an impressive bike/run combination and look for more of that again on Sunday. Lionel also went undefeated in the Recharge With Milk Triathlon Series.
“I am going to do the race, take ten minutes recovery after, then do a one hour bike at Ironman race wattage straight to ten kilometers off the bike at my intended Ironman race pace. I’m very excited for the day,” said Sanders to Kim Osborne. Sanders is in the midst of preparing for Ironman Florida in November.
Cody Beals, second a few weeks ago at Ironman 70.3 Muskoka, will be eager to get some revenge on Sanders, his Recharge With Milk Ambassador Team squad-mate, after finishing second to him at Lakeside and Woodstock this summer.
Cody Beals with the win at Toronto Island.
But the contenders in the men’s race don’t end there. Joining them on the start line are two other Recharge With Milk Ambassador Team members – Alexander VanderLinden and Mikael Staer Nathan. Wily veterans Nigel Gray of NRGPT, and Richard Pady of Healthy Results Training will also be in the mix.
Alexander VanderLinden
Mikael Staer Nathan
The women’s race features a battle between some more wily vets and some young up and comers.
Suzanne Zelazo, Managing Editor of Triathlon Magazine Canada, leads the way. She finished 7th at Ironman 70.3 Muskoka, and won the Rose City Half Tri in June.
Suzanne Zelazo heading to victory at the Rose City Half in Welland.
Paolina Allan of Ignition Fitness, is making a return of sorts to triathlon. Concentrating on bike racing for this past year, the 2013 Welland Half Tri champion is back to close out the season in grand style on this epic course.
Paolina Allan riding on the roads of Welland.
Recharge With Milk Ambassador Team members Angela Quick and Kristen Marchant are both strong swimmers and will hope to get out in front and stay ahead of Zelazo and Allan. Quick finished second to Zelazo at the Rose City Half, and Marchant is making her long distance triathlon debut.
Look for Angela Quick to lead the swim on Sunday.
Kristen Marchant with the win at last weekend’s Lakeside Olympic Triathlon. Sunday will be her longest ever triathlon race. She is a strong runner so watch for a late charge in the half marathon.
“MultiSport Canada has a history of supporting up and coming athletes by sponsoring their racing through our Ambassador Program. I am very pleased to see many of those athletes now racing at a professional level and and very excited about watching them race with us in Niagara Falls and Barrelman,” said John Salt, Founder and President of MultiSport Canada.
Sunday’s triathlon also serves as Ontario Provincial Long Distance Triathlon Championship, with 3 qualifying spots per age group up for grabs for the 2015 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship in Sweden.
Sunday’s race also features the Triathlon Relay, Swim/Bike, and Bike/Run events.
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Get live race weekend coverage – Race day coverage begins on Sunday September 21st at 8 am. EDT.
