Aug 25, 2019 | Nezařazené
The world triathlon powers dominated in Karlovy Vary at the ITU World Cup on Sunday, August 25. Samuel Dickinson was the fastest in the male category. French Raphael Montoya and another British triathlete Grant Sheldon completed the podium. Jan Čelůstka ranked 20th to become the best Czech in the race.
In the morning, Czech fans celebrated the local favourites Vendula Frintová and her gold medal and Petra Kuříková, who ranked fourth.
In the men´s race, the Czech Republic was represented by four triathletes: Jan Čelůstka, František Linduška, Jan Volár were joined by Lukáš Červenka, who was waitlisted until then and definitely feeling tired after Saturday´s Age Group race victory.
After the 1500-metre swim in the Rolava Lake, Russian Igor Polyanskiy left first, another excellent swimmer Slovak Richard Varga right behind him second. The British Samuel Dickinson departed 24th losing 27 seconds. The best Czech was, indeed, Lukáš Červenka, the sixth man out of the water. František Linduška came out 11th, Jan Volár 16th and Jan Čelůstka 25th.
At the beginning of the 40-km cycling course, during which triathletes had to climb the steep Chateau Hill seven times, the fastest swimmers merged into a big pack numbering 30 riders. For a long time, all the Czechs could keep up. The first ones to lose contact were František Linduška and Lukáš Červenka with several minutes´ gap. Saturday´s start in the PSG Age Group race took a toll on Červenka, who did not finish the running section.
In the lead a British-French trio broke away. For some time the Dutch Van Egdom keept pace with them but later in the running segment he started to trail behind. In the last lap, the trio fell apart leaving the British Samuel Dickinson in the lead to the finish. His finish time was 1:56:12.
„It has been my first race in Karlovy Vary and I am truly glad I came here because the beautiful but difficult cycling course had been challenging for me. The running segment was not so fast but in this heat it was a real challenge for each single one of us. I am happy that I have saved most power to the finish and that I have won,“ he was smiling after the race.
Frenchman Raphael Montoya finished second losing 12 seconds to the winner and the bronze medal will go to GB´s Grant Sheldon 30 seconds behind him.
The best running performance of all the Czechs was presented by Jan Čelůstka, who finished 20th losing 2:57 minutes to the leaders. „ I am not happy with the results. I wanted to be in the top15. On the hand, I was enjoying the race thoroughly. A marvellous weather, a great race course and fabulous spectators who were cheering us up. From this point of view it was simply perfect,“ continued the best triathlete in the start field.
Jan Volár finished on the 33rd place. „It was not a race as I had imagined it to be. However, it was a great race with a magnificent course, drummers and people whom I want to thank for firing me forward. It was fantastic,“ he confirmed in the finish area.
František Linduška, who surprised Karlovy Vary with his 5th place last year, ranked 40th in 2019, definitely not satisfied.
Results
2019 Karlovy Vary ITU Triathlon World Cup
Men: 1. Samuel Dickinson (GBR) 1:56:11, 2. Raphael Montoya (FRA) 1:56:22, 3. Grant Sheldon (GBR) 1:56:40 … 20. Jan Čelůstka 1:59:08, 33. Jan Volár 2:02:46, 40. František Linduška 2:07:17, Lukáš Červenka DNF
Women: 1. Vendula Frintová 2:09:08, 2. Tamara Gorman (USA) 2:09:12, 3. Caroline Pohle (GER) 2:10:41, 4. Petra Kuříková 2:10:57 … 31. Iveta Fairaislová 2:17:56, 40. Tereza Zimovjanová 2:24:10
For the overall results please go to
Aug 25, 2019 | Nezařazené
Spectators at the Karlovy Vary ITU Triathlon World Cup were watching an unbelievable performance of the Czech triathletes. On Sunday, August 25, this event marked the absolute highlight of the CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary. Vendula Frintová succeeded in defending her last year´s victory against very tough competitors. And Petra Kurikova finished fourth!
For triathlon fans, it must have been a perfect race. They enjoyed a magnificent ambience of the spa town, sunny weather conditions, a starry start field, including four Czech triathletes and mostly a dramatic race from the start to the end! The breaking point came after 1500 m of swimming and 40 km of cycling in the very last discipline: 10 km run.
Vendula Frintová left water on the 16th place with loosing half a minute to American Tamara Gorman. Petra Kuříková was only three seconds behind her. Tereza Zimovjanová came out of the Rolava Lake another nine seconds later. All of them joined the second cycling pack which reached the city centre with a 30-second gap to the leaders. The last Czech was Iveta Fairaislová, who departed the first transition area on the 38th position loosing 1:44 minutes.
The positions were changing rapidly on the difficult cycling course in Karlovy Vary. Frintová and Kuříková caught up with the leading group whose speed was acceptable only for the best triathletes. Frintová lead a 14-member pack into the transition area 2. Her fall at the transition entry scared the spectators a bit. „I simply rammed in,“ she was smiling at the finish line later. „At the very last moment I started to break, my bike slipped a bit and I ended up on my knees. Luckily, all finished well. Only two opponents passed by and I did not receive any penalty which could have happened.“
On the cycling course, Tereza Zimovjanová dropped in the ranking and she entered the second transition area as the 40th female triathlete loosing approx. 7:30 minutes. Iveta Fairaislová was racing among the top 30-40 and she entered the transition area losing three minutes.
The very first running lap was decisive for the latter leaders and medallists. Frintová and US Tamara Gorman took the lead. „I have no idea why today I was not in a good running shape. I was happy I could run with Tamara, who is a very good triathlete, the U23 world champion. I managed to save some energy and power,“ Frintová said.
In the very end, the Czech triathlete attacked the leading position. When entering the finish she „jumped off“ from her American opponent and completed the race first at the finish time 2:09:08. Gorman finished four seconds later. „. I intended to attack in the very last metres. If you do not feel in an ideal shape, it makes no sense to sprint on a longer distance in front of the finish line.“
From the very beginning, Petra Kuříková was fighting for the third place with German Caroline Pohle. Most of the course Kuříková was ahead of her. German triathlete, however, fought back for the bronze medal in the final 2.5 km lap. „If someone had tol dme that I would rank fourth, I would be enthusiastic about it. Since I was third most of the running course, I am slightly disappointed,“ the Czech triathlete said. Kuříková hereby collected a significant amount of points necessary to make her Olympic qualification dream come true.
Iveta Fairaislová finished 31st and Tereza Zimovjanová ranked 40th.
Results
2019 Karlovy Vary ITU Triathlon World Cup
Women: 1. Vendula Frintová 2:09:08, 2. Tamara Gorman (USA) 2:09:12, 3. Caroline Pohle (GER) 2:10:41, 4. Petra Kuříková 2:10:57 … 31. Iveta Fairaislová 2:17:56, 40. Tereza Zimovjanová 2:24:10
For the overall results please go to
Aug 23, 2019 | Nezařazené
On Friday, August 23, exactly 106 children started at the Czech Youth Cup and hereby officially opened the 2019 CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary. On Saturday, it will continue with the PSG Age Groups races and a concert performed by the Hamleti band.
Kids were competing in the Leisure Time Areal Rolava whose lake was warmed up by the sunny weather. Pupils started in three heats – age groups. The following distances awaited the younger ones 0.1 – 2 – 1. The following swim-bike-run courses 0.4 – 8 – 3 were covered by the older ones. Triathlon Team Tábor was the most successful club collecting 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal.
Aug 22, 2019 | Nezařazené
The whole triathlon world has been heading for the Czech Republic. At the weekend, August 23-25, the CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary and the ITU World Cup will be held. Vendula Frintová, defending last year´s victory, will be one of the greatest favourites for this race. On Friday, the Czech Youth Cup will launch the event. On Saturday, the open race PSG Age Groups as part of the Czech Cup will take place.
The most prestigious triathlon race in the Czech Republic will be held in the beautiful spa town scenery this year as well. Karlovy Vary has been a candidate nominated on the World Heritage list UNESCO. For the World Cup participants will have to battle the Olympic triathlon distances: 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run. The course will wind through the spa zone, colonnades, past the hot Geyser Spring and to the Theatre Square, the heart of the town and triathlon hub. ” The ITU management has highlighted our race course as one of the most beautiful in the world,” proudly states Vladimir Maly, LOC director.
Beautiful but challenging. This is what athletes themselves say about the course. Especially the cycling with steep climbs rank among the most demanding ones in the global triathlon calendar.
The start list will not play into the hands of Frintova
The fully packed start list is a promise of exceptionally attractive races whose outcome can be clear only at the finish line. Last year Czech triathlon fans rejoiced over Vendula Frintova´s victory. “I have to agree with other athletes: It is more difficult to defend a title than to win it for the first time,” she says.
Together with Frintova there will be three more Czech female triathletes on the start list. Petra Kurikova aims to follow her successful silver medal from the European Sprint Championships. Both Iveta Fairaislová and Tereza Zimovjanová will be fighting for their best.
Among triathlon stars from abroad there is Beth Potter, the reigning European champion, who did athletics some years ago. She represented Great Britain on the 10,000 meter distance at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Spanish Sara Peréz Salaa was her country´s olympic team member in swimming. “Well, this year´s start list does not really play in my hands since a very strong group of swimmers have crystalized out of the field,” describes Vendula Frintova the start list. She also adds other triathletes: “Gillian Backhouse won in Karlovy Vary in 2017, when I ranked second. There is a strong trio of Americans: Tomlin, Burns and Gormam – all of them medallists at the world cups.“
Among the stars we should not forget Yulia Yelistratova of the Ukraine, who succeeded in winning the 2018 Salinas World Cup.
A Czech male trio at the start
There will be a Czech trio, namely Jan Čelůstka, Jan Volár and František Linduška at the start in Karlovy Vary. The latter intends to continue his successful performance here like the fifth place in 2018, his ever best result.
Karlovy Vary will be a destination for Dmitryi Polyankyi, defending his last year´s victory. The silver medalist Irish Russell White will be present, too. Slovakian Richard Varga, one of the best European triathletes and one of the best swimmers in the triathlon field will be coming as well. Last year he became the sprint triathlon champion and in 2017 he was the aquathlon European champion.
Vendula Frintová guesses that “the French and British would like to fight for the podium ranking, too.” French Simon Vian has very high expectations since he regularly attacks top 10 at the world championships and he will be starting with the bib no. 1.”
“When looking at the start list, it is obvious that it will be a great race. We are glad we can welcome triathletes who have been to Karlovy Vary before and who delivered great performances but there are also new names from the world top ranking. We will watching with curiousity how they can handle the course and their quality opponents,” says Vladimír Malý.
This year his team prepared some novelties for fans, such as excellent facilities: shuttle buses from Rolava to the venue on the Theatre Square connected to the Imperial funicular. New is also the LED screen opposite a 60-meter grand stand built directly on the Theatre square alongside the finish line.
More at www.citytriathlon.cz
Aug 9, 2019 | Nezařazené
The beautiful spa centre of Karlovy Vary will stage the most prestigious triathlon races in the Czech Republic on August 23-25. Participants of the ITU World Cup and non-professional sportspeople and children will be heading for West Bohemia. All these competitions will be included in the busy schedule of the CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary.
To the most charming colonnades. To the Geyser spring. To the Imperial Spa House. And especially to the Theatre Square, where the finish area with a large stand will be situated. The event called CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary will take triathletes and fans to the most impressive venues of this West Bohemian town. Enjoy them, too!
„We aim to organize our event for professional as well as non-professional triathletes, for fans and families with children. We wish to show them the best of Karlovy Vary and to prepare a programme entertaining them the whole weekend,“ says Vladimír Malý, race director.
Start with your children
The programme will be opened up with the Czech Pupils´ Cup on Friday afternoon. These races for age groups 8-15 will be held in the Leisure Time Areal Rolava and its immediate vicinity. The same venue will be hosting GEIS Baby Duathlon, a fun morning for the smallest sportspeople and their parents. The duathlon races are composed of run – bike (pushbike) – run and they are designed for kids between 1 and 12 years of age. Children can also join their parents in a special relay and share a common experience. There will be no starting fee.
Enjoy the most beautiful race course in the world
The PSG Age Groups races, part of the Czech Triathlon Cup and an open race for absolute amateurs, will start at the Rolava Lake as well. Annually, there are about several hundreds of them present at the start. 750 m swimming, 20 km cycling and 5 km running mean an impressive sport challenge, which is possible to reach by ordinary, hobby triathletes. Those who do not dare to choose the whole race course can build a relay with their colleagues or friends.
A fantastic sports experience ahead. You can look forward to the facilities, conditions and courses, which will be available for world cup professionals one day later. After the swim section in the Rolava Lake, triathletes will ride to the centre of Karlovy Vary, complete three laps round the Thermal Spa Hotel, Geyser and other beautiful spa town locations. It is worth mentioning that the local race course is considered the most beautiful one in the whole world cup calendar.
„In comparison to the last year´s running course, this year it will be altered as barrier-free and it will lead to the other charming locations, such as the Grandhotel Pupp, the Imperial Spa House and the Studánka (Well) spring. A unique experience will be awaiting in the finish line on the Theatre Square,“ explains Vladimír Malý.
From a race directly for a concert
After the race and the awarding ceremony are over, the Theatre Square will change into a party zone – a concert performed by the Hamleti band will start at 7:30 pm. The band members are actors and speakers, namely Dalibor Gondík, Aleš Háma, Jakub Wehrenberg and Hardy Marzuki. You can celebrate your success at the PSG Age Groups race, you can recover before Sunday´s World Cup or simply enjoy a pleasant summer evening in the beautiful scenery.
Cheer up the best triathletes
Sunday´s World Cup will surely be a programme highlight. It will attract the best triathletes from around the globe to Karlovy Vary. They will compete for points in the Olympic qualification and for the prize money at the amount of 60,000 US dollars. We can look forward to thrilling races during which Czech national team members will be fighting for medal podium, too.
To provide the best conditions for fans who should not miss any moment, there will be a bus connection between the Rolava Lake and the town centre. The Imperial funicular will also be integrated in the transportation system. The Theatre Square will be the centrepoint of the race with the second transition area, the finish line, a 60-metre-long stand and an LED screen with live broadcasting of the race.
You can also watch Czech triathletes on TV – Czech TV Sport channel will have direct broadcasting inputs from the ITU Triathlon World Cup.
More information about the 2019 CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary 2019 can be found at:
www.citytriathlon.cz
www.facebook.com/Citytriathlon.cz
