The 2012 Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup will see Team ITU in action for the first time in the 2012 season. Team ITU will consist of eight athletes from six countries in the first of its two selected World Cup events of the year.
 
Team ITU is an initiative of the ITU Development programme with the primary objective of providing support, resources and expertise to athletes from emerging and developing National Federations. The triathletes named as part of Team ITU will receive full support from a world class team of staff made up of ITU Director of Development, Libby Burrell, head coach Mick Delamotte (AUS), bike mechanic Jeff Donaldson (USA) and physiotherapist Alexander Price (AUS).

The women’s team will be made up of Slovenia’s Mateja Simic who made her ITU World Cup debut in Mooloolaba last year which kick started a breakthrough season including two European Cup silver medals as well as a silver at the Edmonton ITU Triathlon World Cup.
 
Simic will be joined by Fanny Beisaron from Israel, 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games gold medallist in the team relay.

Representing Team ITU for the men is Israel’s Dan Alterman and Ron Darmon. Alterman has been racing on the ITU circuit beginning as a junior since 1999 and has competed in numerous World Cup and World Championship Series races. Darmon has also proved his potential on the world stage, finishing fourth at the 2011 Junior World Championships in Beijing.

Also competing in Mooloolaba for the men will be Estonia’s Aleksandr Latin and Herve Banti from Monaco. In addition, the team will welcome newcomers, Swedish triathlete Per Wangel and Slovakia’s Richard Varga. At Wangel’s most recent race he took bronze at the 2011 Myrtle Beach ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup in October and Varga has already opened his 2012 season with three top ten finishes.
 
Team ITU offers potential elite contenders the chance to compete in World Cup events that they may otherwise not be able to attend. Burrell explains why Mooloolaba presents a great opportunity for Team ITU.

“Mooloolaba is one of the toughest courses on the ITU circuit,” said Burrell. “It’s a beach start and then the athletes are up and down Alex Hill on the bike and the run. It will really be a great test and experience for Team ITU.”