In less than two weeks, more than 50 of the world’s best triathletes will be racking their bikes for the US$250,000 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon 2012, as they ready to contest one of the sport’s richest prize purses.

The March 3rd race will be studded with world champions, world record holders, and Olympians, joining some of the sport’s most promising up and coming talent from growing triathlon hot spots such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. This year’s elite field includes athletes who have recorded a combined total of 16 world championship titles, 47 European titles, 102 national titles, and 76 Ironman wins, plus more than 500 podium places between them.

“This event has gone from strength-to-strength, both in terms of the quality and depth competing. When we started this event three years ago, we wanted to create a showpiece that would be a calendar highlight for triathletes the world over. Looking at this year’s line-up, I would say we have fully achieved that goal,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

A 2012 highlight for the men’s race is the arrival of Chris Lieto, the American known as the ‘fastest man on a bike,’ who has 80 triathlons and 15 victories under his belt, including three Ironman wins and three top 10 Championship finishes, including a second place in 2009. Known for his strength and skill on two wheels, Lieto recently underlined his reputation with a stunning 4:25:10 bike leg at the Ironman World Championships.

“I am very excited to race Abu Dhabi this year.” Lieto said. “I am usually not prepared in my fitness this early in the year but I have decided to up my training and put in the miles to be ready. I just finished Ironman 70.3 Panama as a preparation race and good signs of my fitness are showing. I have a couple of weeks to fine tune some things and I feel I will be ready to contend for a win at Abu Dhabi.”

On Lieto’s heels will be returning champion Frederik Van Lierdre, couble Abu Dhabi podium finisher Dirk Bockel, and five-time World Cup winner Rasmus Henning. Other big hitters include first-year champion Eneko Llanos, plus Clayton Fettell, Andrew Starykowicz, Fraser Cartmell, Luke Bell, James Cunnama, and Leon Griffin.

The women’s race is packed with first-class competitors as well, making for a tight fight throughout the entire 223km long course flagship competition.

Caroline Steffen, ‘the Swiss Miss’ is returning to Abu Dhabi for the third time, hoping to better her second place finish last year. In 2011 she overcame injury to win six events in five countries and has been a top-five finisher at the Ironman World Championships in both 2011 and 2010. With her long distance background, Steffen will be the one to beat.

Looking to make her mark in Abu Dhabi is Melissa Rollison, a relative newcomer to triathlon having only switched to the sport in 2010 after a successful athletics career. In just a short time, the Australian has managed to dominate the world’s Half Ironman circuit winning an incredible seven events, breaking course records for each and is currently 70.3 World Champion. Also predicted to be in the lead pack on race day are British trio Leanda Cave, Emma-Kate Lidbury, and Rachel Joyce, Canadian Angela Neath, and Australian Nikki Butterfield, who’s returning to the sport after five years out as a professional cyclist in America and Europe.

The unique course offers one of triathlon’s most picturesque settings: starting in a clear blue lagoon, biking on the famous Yas Marina Circuit, and then ending on the sweeping shores of Abu Dhabi Corniche.

Pro Men’s Field

Andi Boecherer (GER)
Andrew Starykowicz (USA)
Bryan McCrystal (IRE)
Bryan Rhodes (NZ)
Chris Lieto (USA)
Clayton Fettell (AUS)
Dan Halksworth (UK)
Dirk Bockel (LUX)
Eneko Llanos (SPA)
Erich Wegscheider (USA)
Faris Al-Sultan (Team AD) (GER)
Fraser Cartmell (SCO)
Frederik Van Lierde (BEL)
James Cunnama (AUS)
Jeremy Jurkiewicz (Team AD) (GER)
Johann Ackermann (FRA)
Jo Spindler (GER)
Leon Griffin (AUS)
Luke Bell (AUS)
Maik Tweisiek (Team AD)
Michael Davidson (SA)
Niclas Bock (GER)
Nicolas Munoz (ESP)
Paul Ambrose (Team AD)
Rasmus Henning (DEN)
Sam Hsieh (Short Distance) (TAI)
Stephen Bayliss (UK)
Swen Sundenberg (Team AD) (GER)

Pro Women’s Field

Angela Neath (CAN)
Caroline Steffen (SWI)
Christie Sym (AUS)
Daniela Sammler (GER)
Emma-Kate Lidbury (UK)
Eva Nystrom (SWE)
Emi Sakai (JAP)
Heather Wurtele (CAN)
Jodie Swallow (Team AD) (UK)
Kristin Moller (Team AD) (GER)
Leanda Cave (AUS)
Lisa Ribes (USA)
Lucie Zelenkova (CZE)
Melissa Rollison (AUS)
Michelle Bremer (NZ)
Nikki Butterfield (AUS)
Rachel Joyce (UK)
Rachel McBride (CAN)
Silvia Felt (GER)