Heat Shock: A Look Back At The 2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon

With pre-registration for the 2012 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon now open, we though we’d look back at this year’s pro race and help give you an idea of what it would be like to race in the United Arab Emirates.

With temperatures rising to 97 degrees, the pro field at the 2011 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon—maybe the best ever assembled outside of Kona—was put through the ultimate test of their endurance.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.

A perplexed local stumbled upon the sun-baked Abu Dhabi International Triathlon run course as hundreds of Lycra-clad triathletes raced by. “There may be palm trees and big buildings, but [Abu Dhabi] is still a desert,” he deadpanned. Many of the world’s fittest triathletes learned that fact firsthand as they were pushed to the absolute limit to cover 223 kilometers of the Arabian Desert.

Although the conditions during the inaugural race in 2010 were temperate, this year’s scorching 97-degree weather turned Saadiyat Highway—stretching from the center of Abu Dhabi to the Yas Marina Circuit Formula 1 track—into a pressure cooker and earned the race a reputation as one of the ultimate endurance tests in all of triathlon. Racers faced a 3K swim, a 200K bike and a 20K run through the Arabian Desert. Only 37 of the 58 professional triathletes made it to the finish.

Champions Frederik Van Lierde and Julie Dibens managed the 97-degree temperatures better than anyone else and walked home with $50,000 each, but racing triathlon in the United Arab Emirates is an experience beyond simply crossing the finish line.

The city’s structures alone are worth the trip, but triathletes came to the Middle East from all parts of the globe to race. About 1,500 athletes walked into the water to start the race in the shadow of the Emirates Palace, a $3 billion hotel that has 1,002 Swarovski crystal chandeliers hanging from its ceilings.

After exiting the swim, the bike course heads for the city skyline along the coast of the Arabian Gulf. Even before leaving the city, the race claimed its first victim as pre-race favorite Rasmus Henning dropped out due to cramping. (It took hours until his muscles starting functioning normally again.) The course then rises over the city’s outskirts to reveal a forest of high-rise cranes pushing the city limits up and out on all sides. The swim divided the men’s race into two big packs that coalesced on the bike, separated by about 2:30. Both packs contained at least one Ironman world champion. Bryan Rhodes made the first group and thought that the lead might allow his pack to “hold the chasers at bay” until the start of the run.

FILED UNDER: Features TAGS: Abu Dhabi International Triathlon

Aaron Hersh

Aaron Hersh is the Senior Tech Editor of Triathlete magazine. Aaron writes a column every Thursday for Triathlete.com called "Ask Aaron". To submit a question, write Aaron at Askaaron@competitorgroup.com.

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