ABU DHABI — The titans of male triathlon have thrown the gauntlet down for next month's $230,000 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon as the world's best prepare to contest one of the sport's richest prizes against the event's strongest ever field. Returning champions - Eneko Llanos and Frederik Van Lierde – will line up against triathlon powerhouses, Conrad ‘The Caveman' Stoltz, Chris McCormack and Bryan ‘Rhodesy' Rhodes – who have dominated the sport over the last decade - as they vie for the coveted Abu Dhabi crown on March 2. With an enviable pedigree of countless podium places, ITU titles and Ironman world championships between them, the ‘famous five' will be the ones to beat for Abu Dhabi's pure power 223-km flagship race. Hoping to score big on his Abu Dhabi debut, South African stalwart Stoltz has an international reputation as one of the world's most multifaceted endurance athletes. With a professional career spanning over 20 years, Stoltz remains a force to be reckoned with on the elite circuit and is chomping at the bit to make his mark in the United Arab Emirates' capital. Last year alone, the 39-year-old raced 18 times, winning one world title (ITU Cross Tri), and his 10th Xterra USA Series title, as well as 10 other victories and six podiums. With 48 Xterra career wins, 10 Xterra series USA titles and four Xterra World Champion nods — he will be one of the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) event's dark horses. Chris McCormack needs no introduction to the triathlon world. The Aussie holds ‘legendary' status having won the Ironman World Championships twice and is the only man to hold Olympic distance ITU and ITU World Cup Series wins at the same time. Adding to a long list of credentials, his incredible speed is set firmly in the history books as the only man to break eight hours in an Ironman distance four times — his closest rival only reaching the milestone twice. Rhodes originally made a name for himself as a swimmer in his native New Zealand almost 20 years ago and has since competed in numerous half and full Ironman on the US and Canadian circuit. Triple Abu Dhabi top-10 finisher and 2010 champion, Spain's Eneko Llanos, will draw on his expansive ‘local' knowledge to become the first male challenger to lift the Abu Dhabi trophy twice. Rounding out the fearsome five, 2011 champion Van Lierde will draw on his hard-earned Abu Dhabi experience to topple his rivals. Other athletes returning to the pro field are Sylvain Sudrie of France who finished fifth in 2011 and Andi Boecherer from Germany who finished 10th last year. They join Team GB's gold medal winning Olympic triathlete and back-to-back European Triathlon Union champion, Alistair Brownlee, who heads up the 111.5km ‘Short' course line-up. The 2013 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon starts with a sunrise swim in the Arabian Gulf's shimmering turquoise waters off Abu Dhabi's Blue Flagged public beach, before weaving through closed roads along the Corniche Beach, up to the spectacular Yas Island and back to the city center finish line. The organizers have frozen athlete registration fees for the fourth year in a row. Athletes interested in entering can visit www.abudhabitriathlon.com for details. Entry fees for the long and short distances are $190 and $130 respectively, while sprint course rates are $75 (AED 275) for individuals and $120 for a team. The fee for the team relay is $280 (AED1,022).
