ITU World Cup heads to Columbia
First World Cup race to held in Columbia since 1992 this weekend
The penultimate round of the 2011 ITU World Cup series heads to Columbia this weekend, the first time the country has hosted a World Cup since 1992.
This year it’s the eighth stop on the 2011 World Cup tour, and the second last, and big fields have turned out to race in this unique destination. At 6,300-ft elevation, many athletes have arrived early to get adjusted to the altitude.
In the women’s, three Japanese women will start in the top four, with Mariko Adachi in No. 1, Juri Ide with No. 3 and Tomoko Sakimoto No. 4. But there is a host of European and South American talent, as well as best ITU World Cup athlete in history – Vanessa Fernandes also on the start list.
In the men’s, there is a strong American team that includes Matt Chrabot, Manuel Huerta, Jarrod Shoemaker and Andy Potts. But they also face a test with the in-form Brent McMahon (CAN) and Jose Miguel Perez (ESP), three-time Olympians Juraci Moreira (BRA) and Ivan Rana (ESP) and Colombia’s own Carlos Javier Quinchara Forero. Read the full preview here
About the race: Guatape is situated on the edge of a lake that was created in the 1970’s when the government flooded the hilly area around it to create a hydroelectric dam. It has hosted ITU Pan American Cup events for the past three years, in 2009, 2010 and in June this year. The course starts with two-lap 1.5km lake swim with a pontoon start, before an four-lap 40km bike course and a four-lap 10km run along the waterfront.
SCHEDULE:
Elite Women – Sunday 6 November – 07:00 (UTC/GMT -5) Click here for time in your area
Elite Men – Sunday 6 November- 10:00 (UTC/GMT -5) Click here for time in your area
WEBSITES:
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
