Next City Triathlon Doubful
A big-time international triathlon is looking unlikely for New Plymouth next year and the city will probably never host one again.
The global credit crisis and a change to the way International Triathlon Union rates its events are to blame.
New Plymouth hosted three ITU World Cup events in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and a lower tier Continental Cup race in April this year.
The athletes rated the course one of the best in the world, with a harbour swim, a cycle leg through central New Plymouth and the run along the Coastal Walkway.
But Triathlon New Zealand chief executive Dave Beeche broke the bad news to the Taranaki Daily News yesterday.
"At this stage, the chances of New Plymouth hosting an ITU race again are slim," he said.
"Due to the current economic climate, we've made the decision not to go ahead with a Continental Cup race in New Plymouth next year."
There were several reasons behind the decision.
The global credit crisis was one, but a change in status for ITU events was the major factor with a World Championship Series replacing the World Cup in premier status.
"The World Cup races used to be the top events for triathletes, but now the focus is on the World Championship Series.
"The World Championships Series is the premier event," Mr Beeche said.
"It involves eight races, with the eighth race in Budapest being the grand final. The World Cup series has been reduced from 15 races to five."
While it was disappointing New Plymouth missed out, Mr Beeche said Triathlon New Zealand couldn't put the sport at risk and had to do what was right to promote the sport.
Yesterday, the ITU granted Sydney a four-year deal to host a World Championship Series event.
Next year's race will be the first of the 2010 series, with other races likely to be held in Washington DC, London, Hamburg, Madrid, Japan and Korea.
"The three World Cup events New Plymouth hosted and this year's Continental Cup race have been great for the profile of New Plymouth and New Zealand," Mr Beeche said.
"In terms of showcasing New Zealand's elite athletes on the international stage, it's been very successful."
Mr Beeche said Triathlon New Zealand would be looking at hosting other events in Taranaki.
"It could be including New Plymouth in the Contact Tri Series which involved seven races from Auckland down to Wanaka," he said.
"New Plymouth is a fantastic venue for triathlon. Ngamotu Beach is a guaranteed swim, followed by a stunning bike ride and a great run along the Coastal Walkway. We would definitely like to have something in New Plymouth."
New Plymouth's Graham Park, a coach with Triathlon New Zealand, said it was a major loss for Taranaki.
Ad Feedback "I'm sorry to see it go. The first year with all the Olympians here was a great event," he said.
"That first event couldn't have been scripted better, with Bevan Docherty beating Kris Gemmell in a Kiwi one-two finish. It was one of the only events Taranaki has hosted where we've had Olympians racing."
The first World Cup event in New Plymouth in November, 2005, had prizemoney totalling $US120,000. A year later, the prizemoney had dropped to $US100,000, with triathletes racing for $US80,000 in April, 2008.
The prizemoney for this year's Continental Cup race was $US50,000.
But with the high New Zealand dollar, prizemoney costs soared with World Cup events having a minimum pool of $US80,000 (about $NZ140,000).
Port Taranaki pulled out of a four-year sponsorship deal last December when the New Plymouth World Cup race was replaced by a Continental Cup race. The company said then it would reduce its sponsorship to $75,000 a year to reflect the event's lesser status.
Source : Taranaki Daily News Homepage