The day started with defending champion Luke McKenzie of Australia leading the men out of the water with a time of 49:28. Following him were Japan’s Hiroyuki Nishiuchi, France’s Romain Guillaume and Vanhoenacker. McKenzie went to work on the bike keeping a fast pace through the first 45 km. It did not turn out to be McKenzie’s day as he fell back through the pack and eventually dropped out of the race due to stomach issues. Through his Twitter McKenzie said “Sorry guys I’m out! Pretty gutted! Upset stomach on the bike. Nothing staying down!”

With McKenzie out of the race, Vanhoenacker faced little competition and posted a blazing bike time of 4:21:01. Heading onto the run with a massive lead over Guillame and Nishiuchi, Vanhoenacker’s biggest battle would be avoiding the stomach problems that plagued him in the heat of Kona. He managed to keep a steady pace throughout the entire 26.2 miles posting a 3:06:44 marathon and crossing the finish line in first at 8:22:31. Nearly a half hour later, Nisiuchi came to the finish with a time of 8:50:52 for second. While Guillaume looked to be the only athlete within striking distance of Vanhoenacker heading onto the run, he struggled in the heat and had to settle for third at 8:54:38.

American Hillary Biscay and Granger were the first women out of the water at just after 55 minutes into the race. Granger quickly went to work and ended up riding most of the bike leg by on her own up front. Once on the run, it was a matter of not blowing up in the hot and humid conditions. Granger managed a marathon time of 3:31:09, giving her an overall time of 9:23:33 and the overall win. The win is Granger’s third in a row at Ironman Malaysia. While Italy’s Edith Niederfriniger was the only runner to take time out Granger’s lead, it would not be nearly enough as Neiderfriniger came into the finish in second at 9:35:02. Despite mechanical problems on the bike, Biscay earned a podium position thanks to a time of 10:10:59.

Ironman Malaysia

Langkawi, Malaysia – Feb. 27, 2010

2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run

Men

1. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) 8:22:31

2. Hiroyuki Nishiuchi (JPN) 8:50:52

3. Romaine Guillaume (FRA) 8:54:38

4. Justin Granger (AUS) 9:01:08

5. Andres Venhorst (NED) 9:12:03

Women

1. Belinda Granger (AUS) 9:23:33

2. Edith Niederfriniger (ITA) 9:35:02

3. Hillary Biscay (USA) 10:10:59

4. Ariane Monteceli (BRA ) 10:15:17

5. Jocelyn Wong (USA) 10:20:32

Click here to see complete results.

See the complete release from the ITU below:

Photo: Triathlon.org/Delly Carr

Reigning ITU World Champion Alistair Brownlee of Great Britain will delay the start of his 2010 season due to a femoral stress fracture. The injury will keep Brownlee out of the first two rounds of the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series in Sydney and Seoul. According to Brownlee, he hopes to return to racing in time for the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Madrid on June 5.

“As an athlete, getting the best out of myself means pushing myself to the edge of my limits. Unfortunately, sometimes you cross the line and injury is inevitable,” Brownlee said. “While the worst part is not being able to do what I love every day, I am pleased with my rehab to date. My primary focus is to get fit and healthy and I really hope to be racing in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series race in Madrid in June.”

Brownlee will still have an opportunity to recapture his world title by scoring points at the remaining Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series races in Madrid, London, Kitzbuehel and the Grand Final in Budapest. Additionally, Brownlee will be able to use points from two World Cup races toward his final world ranking.

Both athletes will no doubt face hot conditions and tough competition from their fellow racers. McKenzie is a fan of racing several Ironmans in a season, and his biggest threat to defend could come from another athlete with the same philosophy. Belgium’s Marino Vanhoenacker is fresh off of a win at Ironman Florida and has at least three Ironmans on his schedule this year.

Granger’s biggest competition will likely come from fellow Ironman champions Rebecca Preston of Australia, Edith Neiderfriniger of Italy and her good friend Hillary Biscay of the United States.

Check back to Triathlete Europe for a complete race recap.

Men’s Pro Lineup

Richard Thompson (AUS)

Romain Guillaume (FRA)

Luke Mckenzie (AUS)

Hirotsugu Kuwabara (JPN)

Markus Mlinar (AUT)

Andreas Venhorst (DEU)

Freddy Lampret (ZAF)

Michael Angelo Mandap (PHL)

Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL)

Dan Brown (AUS)

Hiroyuki Nishiuchi (JPN)

Marek Nemcik (SVK)

Arland Macasieb (USA)

Jan Rehula (CZE)

Jozef Vrabel (SVK)

Justin Granger (AUS)

Women’s Pro Lineup

Ariane Monticeli (BRA)

Jocelyn Wong (USA)

Inge Vancauwenberghe (BEL)

Rebecca Preston (AUS)

Hillary Biscay (USA)

Belinda Harrison (AUS)

Amanda Balding (AUS)

Miranda Alldritt (CAN)

Maki Nishiuchi (JPN)

Megumi Shigaki (JPN)

Ladislava Cisarovska (CZE)

Edith Niederfriniger (ITA)

Belinda Granger (AUS)

Tucson is considered the nation's top winter triathlon training city. Photo: Nils Nilsen

The 2011 and 2012 USAT National Duathlon Festival will consist of three duathlons in the Oro Valley (an area north of Tucson) – the Age Group National Championship, a sprint-distance citizen’s race and the off-road Championship.

“The selection of Tucson/Oro Valley to host the 2011 and 2012 USA Triathlon National Duathlon Festival provides the perfect opportunity to prove to world-class athletes and trainers how our community lives up to the title of ‘America’s Winter Training Capital,’” said Vince Trinidad, director of the Tucson Sports division for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau.

2011-12 USAT National Duathlon Festival Race Distances (run, bike, run)*

Age Group National Championship – 5k, 40k, 5k

Citizen’s Race (sprint distance) – 2.5k, 20k, 2.5k

Off-Road Championship – 3k, 15k, 3k

*Distances are subject to change.

The 2010 event is slated for April 24-25 in Richmond, Va.

Click here to see the complete press release from USAT.

Three-time Olympian Hunter Kemper is part of an elite group adorning the covers of Wheaties boxes across the country. He’s joined by athletes like Peyton Manning, Albert Pujols and Kevin Garnett. Kemper talks about being the “guy no one knows” on the Wheaties box and the importance of staying relevant in non-Olympic years.

You’d never pick out Hunter Kemper in the cereal aisle at the grocery store.

He’s right there between the Honey Nut Chex and Honey Bran Oh’s, chillin’ with Peyton Manning, Albert Pujols and Kevin Garnett.

He’s yours for only $4.29, along with 100 percent of the RDAs for the five B vitamins; five grams of fiber, and calcium and vitamin D.

Kemper is a famous guy who’s not really famous.

Click here to read the complete story.

Click here to see Hunter Kemper in the Wheaties campaign.

All winning entries being announced on Thursday, April 15, 2010. The price to enter the Ironman Lottery is $40 for general entry and $50 for Passport Club entry. The Passport Club Entry allows athletes to receive member benefits, such as an increased chance of securing a lottery slot, an Ironman DVD, discounts at Ironmanstore.com and a five percent discount on merchandise during race week in Kona.

Participants gain entry into the Ford Ironman World Championship one of three ways: by qualifying for a slot at one of more than 20 events held worldwide, by being selected in the Ironman Lottery, or by winning a slot through Ironman’s charitable eBay Auction.

To register for a chance to win a lottery slot click here.

The new Elite Bicycles storefront in Singapore.

After being frustrated with a lack of bike selection in the Singapore area, Daphne Wee and Adeline Khoo came across Elite Bicycles. Bikes from Elite are built to fit each rider individually, allowing a wide variety of cyclists to fit on their bikes. The process of buying a bike from Elite involves a four hour fit session. The two have been riding on Elite bikes for five years and decided to open Elite Bicycles Asia with the help of Elite President David Greenfield.

“We wanted to give other cyclists a chance to experience the unmatched comfort and performance that only a customized bicycle can provide,” said Ms. Daphne Wee, Director of Elite Bicycles Asia. “Cycling has always been my passion, and I am truly lucky to begin an endeavour that will align with my interests.”

The store will host an open house the weekend of Ironman 70.3 Singapore.

Click here for the complete press release.

Emma Moffatt is the reigning ITU World Champion. Photo: Delly Carr/Triathlon.org

“I didn’t think anything was broken at the time, but a week later things weren’t improving so I had an MRI and that showed a couple of breaks in the humerus head,” Moffatt said.

The prognosis for the 25-year old is that her shoulder will heal completely without surgery, although she will be forced to take approximately six weeks off of swimming.

“At this stage I have ruled out Mooloolaba and then I’ll reassess what races I’ll do when I get an update on how it’s healing,” Moffatt added. “I’d still love to race the [World Championship Series] opener in Sydney but I will just have to wait and see how my shoulder progresses and see where my fitness is at.”

The seven-race Dextro Energy ITU World Championship Series kicks off in Sydney, Australia on April 11, finishing with the Grand Finale in Budapest, Hungary on September 11. Moffatt won four Championship Series races last year to take home the inaugural title ahead of Lisa Norden of Sweden and Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand.

Press release provided by Triathlon.org.

Every year two professionals win the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater, Florida and earn coveted slots to the following year’s Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. And it seems every year we are left wondering if they will take the slots. Former Ironman 70.3 World Champions like Craig Alexander and Samantha McGlone have made the jump up to the Ironman distance in Kona in strong fashion. Will Julie Dibens and Michael Raelert make their Ironman debut in October?

Dibens led by herself for most of the race. Photo: Clarke Rodgers

They both addressed that topic last night at the Trek/K-Swiss Triathlon Team press conference. Neither athlete would 100% confirm whether or not we’ll see them racing in Hawaii in October, but Dibens sounds pretty confident that she will be racing against her good friend Chrissie Wellington.

Here’s what the two had to say –

Julie Dibens:

“I have until June to decide. I am racing next month in Abu Dhabi and I’m going to use that as a test to see how I feel in the longer distance. Unless I don’t enjoy it or if I have a terrible day out there, I will be in Kona. It should be fun.”

“I have no idea how I would do in Kona. But I’m excited to at least start thinking about it. If you asked me last year about Kona, I wouldn’t have even addressed it. Doing Olympic distance, Xterra, and 70.3 distance races is what I’ve been doing for the last 10 years. I’m excited to do something new. I’m excited to try to push Chrissie (Wellington) for at least one or two miles.”

Raelert smashed the course record in Clearwater. Photo: Clarke Rodgers

Michael Raelert:

“I have my own plan. I want to do Ironman quite good. So, should my first Ironman race be Kona? In June I will have to make the decision if I go this year, or maybe next year. It depends on how I feel on the bike. I feel ready on the run and the swim. I will get through my first few races and see if I am ready for 180km bike ride. If not this year, then definitely next year. My goal when I go to Kona will not just be to finish; I want to be like my brother. I want to go to Kona and hopefully make podium on my first attempt. “