By Brad Culp
June 16, 2007 -- This Sunday (June 17), triathlon history will be made in Des Moines, Iowa. The seventh installment of the 2007 BG World Cup Triathlon Series makes its way to America’s heartland for the inaugural Hy-Vee Triathlon. The world’s best ITU athletes will vie for their share of the record-shattering $700,000 prize purse. The men’s and women’s winner will each receive an unheard of $200,000 check, with prizes filtering all the way down to $3,000 for the 15th place man and woman.
On paper, the event boasts the most competitive field in any event since the 2004 Olympics.
The men’s field looks to be wide-open and a strong contingent of American athletes figure to be in the mix for the overall win. Making his long-awaited return to the World Cup is 2006 USOC Athlete of the Year Hunter Kemper, who has been sidelined with a nagging hip injury.
Kemper admits that he isn’t 100 percent, but nonetheless, he is excited at the opportunity to race in the United States.
“It’s a huge deal to have a World Cup in the U.S., to showcase the excellent draft-legal style of racing,” Kemper told USA Triathlon. “It gives a different look to the other big races in the U.S. It’s an exciting style.”
Other Americans gunning for the win include Andy Potts, who has been virtually unbeatable this season, and Matty Reed, who set a course record at St. Anthony’s Triathlon in May.
Making things difficult for the American athletes will be a stacked field of international competitors. World number one Javier Gomez of Spain figures to be a contender, along with the flying-Canadian Simon Whitfield (who is coming off a win in Vancouver last week), Olympic silver medalist Bevan Docherty of New Zealand, and reigning world champion Tim Don of Great Britain.
As with every race she enters, Aussie Emma Snowsill is the heavy favorite in the women’s race. The three-time world champion seems to be in a league of her own, but a $200,000 check may be enough to motivate the rest of the women’s field to hang with her.
Eight of the best women in the U.S will be in the mix for the money, including Sarah Haskins (currently 11th in the world), Laura Bennett (3 career World Cup wins) and the versatile Joanna Zeiger.
NBC, who will be airing a one-hour special of the race on July 15th, will offer live cut-ins tomorrow afternoon, during their coverage of the U.S Open Golf Championship.
Live coverage and results will be available on the ITU’s website, at www.triathlon.org, beginning at 2:15 pm EST.
Check back at Triathletemag.com tomorrow night for a complete rundown of the drama and excitement that only $700,000 can create.