Preview of Powerman Long-Distance World-Championship in Zofingen 2010 - On the weekend of the 4th and 5th of September 2010 the Powerman Zofingen will already be taking place for the 22nd time. With its 10km (6.21mi) run, 150km (93.21mi) cycling, and another 30km (18.64mi) run the Long-Distance World Championship event is the toughest duathlon in the world. By contrast, the enhanced Powerman Charity, held for the third time, will offer a lot of fun and do much good. Several celebrities have already announced their participation. - by Raphael Galliker

The fact that over 350 athletes from 25 countries entered the long-distance race in 2009 proves just how popular the Powerman Zofingen has become. The total number of participants of the 21st Powerman even surpassed 1,000, which resulted in the highest attendance for the past eight years. “For the short and long-distance races on Sunday we are expecting a significant increase in participants compared to last year”, optimistically predicts Martin Ryser, Head of Athlete Marketing. “Ensured by a bolstered marketing team and numerous Powerman-ambassadors, who are actively advertising the Powerman Zofingen at races across different countries”, Ryser adds. The long-distance race once more also counts as a competition within the Swiss Duathlon Cup series. The winner of the series will be crowned at the post-race party on Sunday evening in Zofingen. “For the two days of events we are expecting again a lot more participants from all around the world than we already had last year“, Ryser reveals. Additional entertainment is provided by several attractions and in particular the expanded Powerman-Expo around the transition zone. The Swiss Sports TV (live-coverage on the 5th of September 2010 in between 2 and 4 pm) and after that many repetitions) and the popular cheerleaders will be back again this year as well.

Powerman Zofingen honoured

The English “220 Magazine” listed the Powerman Zofingen among the top five triathlon events in the world last year. Seen this way, the Powerman Zofingen had consolidated its dominant position as the best known duathlon on our planet. At the long-distance duathlon championships on September 5th 2010 all eyes will be on last year’s winner. Erika Csomor, the 35 year old Hungarian, won last year in Zofingen for the sixth consecutive time. The queen of Zofingen distanced the runner-up, Briton Jessica Petersson, by over six minutes.”I will be back next year”, Csomor promised back then. And that she really is in a good shape she proved on the 22nd of August by winning the Powerman Austria in Weyer.

The pursuit for new records

Men’s winner Joerie Vansteelant was fast like a rocket last year. He crossed the finish line 9 minutes and 25 seconds before any other athlete competing before. For the 10km (6.21mi) run, 150km (93.21mi) bike race and another 30km (18.64mi) run he required only 6 hours 11 minutes and 35 seconds. Maybe the Belgian was more motivated because Swiss television would broadcast the first-class event live for the first time. His toughest opponent, the 28 year old Andy Sutz from Schaffhausen, lost in the end by exactly 16 minutes to high-flyer Vansteelant. This winning margin happens to be the largest ever achieved at the Powerman Zofingen. Furthermore, this was the first time a favourite would be able to win in his first appearance. After his great victory in Weyer on the 22nd of August at the Powerman Austria Sutz would like to win in Zofingen for the second time. “Joerie Vansteelant was in a league of his own. This is an incredible achievement”, said Sutz in the finishing area. He had won the Powerman Zofingen in 2008 as a rookie, just like Vansteelant did in 2009. “If possible, I will be coming back to Zofingen every year from now on” the Belgian promised at the award ceremony. He still can sign in for the Powerman Zofingen 2010 and also you can do it until the 2nd of September online at www.powerman.ch or www.datasport.com.

Domestic Triumphs

There were years where the Powerman Zofingen long-distance race was dominated by the Swiss. 1996 and 1997 would see Swiss only podiums for the men; a feat also accomplished by the Swiss women twice, in 1989 and 2000. Domestic highlights this year promise to be provided by three men from the canton of Aargau. Foremost there is Stefan Lüscher, the 31 year old from Zofingen, who finished fourth in 2008 and was unable to start last year due to injury. Furthermore, brothers Lukas and Jonas Baumann plan to finish both in the top ten for the first time this year.
After her victory in Belgium at the Powerman Memorial Benny Vansteelant on the 6th of June this year Jacqueline Uebelhart became even stronger. The 35-year-old originally from Welschenrohr/SO was at the Powerman Austria the hardest competitor for Erika Csomor. Uebelhart just was beaten by the Hungarian lady in the final running section.

A growing Jubilee Club

Udo Siebert of Germany founded the Jubilee Club, where only athletes who have finished the Powerman Zofingen (long distance) ten times or more are admitted. Eleven men and one woman (Maja Jacober from Zürich) have joined the Jubilee Club already. The reward is a golden pin! On top of the leader board is the now 69 year old Willi Erismann from the canton of Aargau, Switzerland, who has finished the Powerman Zofingen every time since its inception, a total of 21 times! This time Erismann won’t start in Zofingen. This year’s possible inductees include Erika Csomor (Hungary), John Philipps (USA), and Norbert Hubert (Germany). The trio has so far completed nine long distance events in Zofingen. Besides the race day’s winners, ten-time finishers as well as Powerman-ambassadors will be honoured at the post-race party in Zofingen.

Charity as a magnet

Since the 20th Powerman anniversary event two years ago, the Powerman Zofingen organising committee has been emphasising on pure competitive sports on Sunday and reserves Saturday for popular sports with topics focusing on health, new talent, and charity. The Powerman Charity, held for the third time, has seen major enhancements. The event with the motto “exercise, fun, and health” promises to be a real thriller. Many personalities from sports, politics, and entertainment will be joining the party, such as cycling pros Markus Zberg and Bruno Risi, curling aces Carmen Schäfer and Jan Hauser, former beach volleyball star Paul Laciga, Swiss TV anchor duo Steffi Buchli and Oliver Bono, the freestyle skier Evelyne Leu, former duathlon world champion Urs Dellsperger, former top triathlete Brigitte McMahon, football (soccer) luminary Hansruedi Hasler (former technical director of the SFV, Swiss football association), beach-soccer star Stephan Meier, and SVP (Swiss People’s Party) national councillor Sylvia Flückiger-Bäni from the canton of Aargau. Whoever wants to run and cycle with these and other celebrities will have to hurry up as tickets for this event are going fast! You will have a choice between the 5km (3.11mi) run and a 30km (18.64mi) bike race, which partially covers the original Powerman track. The bike race will start at 13:30 (1:30pm) on the 4th of September and the run at 13:45 (1:45pm). Both, the start and finish will be at the Powerman-Arena. Since it will not (!) be an official race there will be no time taken or ranking. Important are to have fun and the spirit of charity. The entry fee is 50 CHF.

Win a Flyer electric bicycle

At the finish, participants of the Powerman Charity will receive a great souvenir t-shirt. People who signed up before August 25th 2010 online at Datasport (www.datasport.com) get a chance to win a fantastic prize. A 4-day trip from Willisau to Murten is beckoning. This includes a Flyer electric bicycle rental and a three night-stay at a total value of 700 CHF. This prize is donated by Biketec AG Huttwil (www.biketec.ch). Additionally, everyone starting at the Powerman Charity will be automatically entered to win the grand prize also donated by Biketec AG Huttwil. You can win a Flyer electric bicycle valued at 3,500 CHF (choice of model and size)! Important: both prizes mentioned can only be won if present at the drawing which takes place in the transition area immediately after the Powerman Charity races!

Biketec AG also provides 45 electric bikes for the Powerman Charity races. Give it a try! All proceeds from the Powerman Charity will go the Stiftung Kinderhilfe Sternschnuppe (www.sternschnuppe.ch). The mission of the foundation is to fulfil a wish for seriously ill or disabled children and teenagers.

Children at the centre

On Saturday September 4th 2010, children that are part of the PowerKids and PowerYouth race programme will be challenged. New this year, a slightly longer track (2km/1.24mi running, 8km/4.97mi cycling, and 2km/1.24mi running) will be available for youths between the ages of 14 and 17. Furthermore, the PowerYouth races are part of the “Youth Duathlon Cup” series of the Swiss Triathlon Association. With those races being the last in the series, the series’ winners will be awarded at the Powerman-Arena on the 4th of September in Zofingen.