First Race Set for May 3 in South Korea
ColoradoTriathlete.com
April 10, 2009 (Boulder, CO) – The 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series will kick off in Tongyeong, South Korea on May 2-3. It will make stops in some spectacular locations such as Washington, DC (USA), Madrid (ESP), Kitzbühel (AUT), Hamburg (GER), and Yokohama (JPN).
In August athletes will get their first look at the 2012 Olympic venue as the series travels to London (GBR). The series wraps up with the Grand Final in Gold Coast, Australia on September 9-13.
The year-end bonus pool will be almost triple from previous years, with $700,000 being presented at the end of the series. Each event will feature a $150,000 prize purse with the grand finale offering $250,000.
Among the world’s top triathletes competing in the series is Boulder’s Matt Reed, profiled below.
Matt Reed (Boulder, CO USA)
Full Name: Matthew John Reed
Nickname: Boom Boom
Date of Birth: November 8, 1975
Competing Since: 1994
Biggest sporting achievement/ claim to fame:
2008 Olympian, recipient of USA Triathlon’s 2008 Elite Male Athlete of the Year Award, multi-time USA National Champion, including 2008.
Most memorable sporting moment?
Winning the US National title at the first attempt and being sick doing it.
What is your target for 2009?
My goal is to raise my game from last year, which was my best year I’ve had. I will try to be more consistent and dominate many races.
What are your thoughts on the new Dextro Energy ITU World Championship Series?
It’s going to be very exciting racing. It’s going to have the best athletes in the world concentrating on this one series. It’s great for the sport, it’s getting more professional now and it’s going to be fantastic racing.
What, if anything, are you doing differently this year compared to 2008?
I need to choose my races more wisely. Pick races that are more important. Try to do well in the WCS Series and finish it off maybe with a world championship title in the 70.3.
Who do you think will be your main competition for the title?
The biggest competition is definitely myself. I’m always trying to improve my performance. Every day in training I’m working on getting better. The only person I worry about in the race is myself.
Any messages to your competitors?
You guys better look out because Matty Reed is just getting better and better!
