THIRTEEN elite triathletes, all from outside Zimbabwe have entered this year’s Bonaqua Troutbeck Africa Triathlon Union African Cup to be held in Nyanga on Saturday.

Seven men and six women will take to the pool, cycle track as well running path in the elite races. Turkish triathlete, Jonas Schomburg, who is entering the Troutbeck event under the International Triathlon Union banner, leads the men’s starting list which also has the South African duo of Dylan Nortje, Jacobus Kruger, Japanese pair of Ren Sato, Takumi Higo, Namibian Jean-Paul Burger as well as Linus Stimmel of Germany.

The women starting list is headed by Aoi Kuramoto of Japan with her compatriot Chika Sato also part of the field. Four South Africans have entered, these being Cindy Schwulst, Vicky Van Der Merwe, Jodie Berry and Maude Elaine Le Roux.

Zimbabwe Triathlon Union president, Rick Fulton said for the men, Schomburg, who was part of last year’s race is the favourite while Nortje who took third spot at the Free State Africa Cup  held on 19 March cannot be ruled out with the dark horse being Namibian, Burger. For the women, Fulton singled out Kuramoto, the South African pair of Schwulst and Van Der Merwe as the front runners.

“For the men, Jonas Schomburg raced here last year so knows the course, he is the favourite by virtue of his race number/ranking. Dylan Nortje finished third behind him at the Free State African Cup two weeks ago. A real dark horse is Namibian Jean-Paul Burger who is strong and the course will suit him. For the women, Japanese Aoi Kuramoto is ranked top and she is unknown to us, Cindy Schwulst and Vicky Van Der Merwe both of RSA have raced here before and know what to expect for the course and conditions,’’ said Fulton.

Last year’s elite winners, Ayan Beisenbayev of Kazakhstan for the men section and Fabienne St Louis of Mauritius who took the women’s race are not participating. Fulton indicated that he was not aware why Beisenbayev is not taking part but St Louis has called time on her career after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Winners for both the men and women elite race will walk away with $750, $500 is in store for the runners up while $250 will find its way to those in third place. The elite athletes are expected to land at the Harare International Airport this afternoon before they embark on a bus trip to Nyanga.

@Mdawini_29