Abu Dhabi: British ace Brownlee Brothers — Alistair and Jonathan — have both confirmed for the ITU World Triathlon Series Abu Dhabi to be held at the Yas Island from March 2-3.
The inclusion of the ace duo is a huge boost for the tournament as the British stars have been a dominant force in the Triathlon scene for over a decade. Their biggest success came in 2016 when Alistair helped younger brother Jonathan across the finish line in ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final 2016 in Cozumel, Mexico.
“Abu Dhabi is an awesome location for the season-opening WTS race - I raced on the Corniche course back in 2015, and am excited to check out the new course on Yas Island. The weather in March in Abu Dhabi will be perfect – a far cry from the conditions we have experienced in the UK this winter. Everyone knows that we both give 110% when we race and Abu Dhabi will be no different. We’ll definitely be putting on a show for the crowds in March!,” said the Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Jonathan Brownlee in a statement.
Jonathan’s brother, two-time Olympic gold medallist Alistair speaking about his participation said, “I’m definitely keen to get out there and race in March - the new course on the F1 track looks really good for a sprint distance race. I’m looking forward to toeing the line against a top field in Abu Dhabi to see where I am after coming back from injury - it’s no secret that I’ll be looking to be competitive, especially with the Commonwealth Games coming up in April.”
The pair have shared phenomenal success throughout their careers, with over 40 ITU and ETU wins between them. Following Jonathan’s participation at the World Triathlon Series (WTS) Abu Dhabi 2015, where he finished 5th in the Men’s Elite category, the Brownlee Brothers went on to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympics, with Alistair claiming the gold and Jonathan picking up the silver medal.
The star of last year’s women’s elite race, Andrea Hewitt will also return to Yas Island this spring to once again compete for the WTS Abu Dhabi title. Hewitt contested another of the most memorable finishes of the ITU World Triathlon Series calendar in the 2017 event against Jodie Stimpson, with Hewitt pipping defending champion, Stimpson to first place by a matter of steps on the iconic blue carpet. Hewitt will once again toe the line in a bid to pick up the first honours of the 2018 season.
Hoping to retain her WTS Abu Dhabi title, Andrea Hewitt commented; “I’m delighted to be returning to Abu Dhabi this year, a place that holds some amazing memories for me following my first-place finish last year. The 2017 race was a turning point for me both personally and professionally. I had trained so hard, went into the race in good form and knew that I had a chance of doing well. To pick up the gold-medal, the way I did, it was an overwhelming sense of emotion - I think that showed at the finish line. That victory would not have been possible, had it not been for the fantastic support I received from family, friends and the triathlon community. I’m looking forward to seeing what this year’s race holds and with a bit of luck, I’ll be on the podium again!”Organisers have also announced that the fourth edition of the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi will be a test event for the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019. It will be the first time the region has hosted the Special Olympics World Games which are expected to see over 7,000 athletes descend on the UAE from 14 to 21 March 2019. The Games will feature a total of 22 sports, including triathlon which made its debut at the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles.
