TriStar111 Monaco: The favourites about their aims and expectations

Geschrieben von: Clemens Huss | 04. September 2010

Just one day to go! The favourites of the TriStar111 Monaco gathered at todays press conference at 10 o’clock and shared their feelings and thoughts.

More than 660 individuals and 40 relay teams are registrated for the big race tomorrow. Only few of them have real chances for victory. In one point all of the professional athletes agreed. The TriStar111 Monaco is going to be a tough competition. The condition of each athlete will decide about victory or defeat over the 1km SWIM, 100km CYCLING and 10km RUN.

17 male and 4 female professional athletes are going to be at the starting line on Sunday at 8:00. Top favourite and Winner of the 1st TriStar111 in Germany Chris McCormack (AUS) about the course: “It’s a difficult distance. On the page it looks easy but the cycling course is hard, because you can’t give up any ground.” About his expactions for the race: “I am a lot fitter than a few weeks ago, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” He even has some advise for his rivals: “The swim is over before you know it and the bike distance is very aggressive. So, if you want to win, be aggressive from the start.”
Olivier Marceau (SUI), who participated three times in the Olympic Games is one of the favourites as well. “The new TriStar format is more focused on the bike race. There are hardly any similarites to the olympic distances. Just the way to manage the effort is similar. The bike course is very interesting to discover. You have to keep some energy for the run.”

Among the female competitors there are four professional athletes who want to fight for victory: Christel Robin (FRA), who won last year’s Ironman 70.3 in Monaco (on her 21st Birthday!), Dina Braguti (ITA), Coralie Lemaire (BEL) and Sara Tavecchio (ITA). Christel Robin likes the course: “Especially the bike course is very beautiful but also difficult and mountainous. I prepared myself in the mountains.”

Coralie Lemaire is feeling well in this region: “I have a good feeling about the race. The run course, which leads over the original Formula One route, raised the prestige of the TriStar111 Monaco. I’m glad to be a part of this unique competition.”

Also course director Laurent Lerousseau is looking forward to a stunning race: “There are two main propositions we have. The first one is to create dreams and the second is to have a nice race. It’s great that we have got the authorisation to run on the Formula One course. It makes the competition even more interesting. Further it’s going to be a sunny day tomorrow, so be prepared for a exciting and wonderful race tomorrow.”

Due to the participating celebrities like Paul Belmondo, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Didier André, Thierry Bourguignon and others the race will even be more interesting.

Paul Belmondo, the french racing driver, actor and son of Jean Paul Belmondo knows the course but he doesn’t see this fact as an advantage: “When I was driving I was more concentrated on the curves. In the last months I worked very hard on my cycling and swimming skills but not so hard for the run. Let’s see what the Raceday brings.”

The prestigous Formula One Race under the Triathlons will be broadcasted by numerous TV-stations. The local Broadcasting Station Monaco Info will be there right from the start. Additional TV-stations which are going to produce unique shots from and around the race are the French station TF1, the British BBC, German RTL, the Spanish TV3 and last but not least the Austrian ORF.

This assures millions of spectators in front of the TV to get in touch with the race, the athletes and the starting celebrities. The Principality of Monaco will be presented from its most exciting and breathtaking side.