Preview: Worlds best endurance athletes race in Vitoria-Gasteiz for 2012 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain (24 July 2012) -  While Olympic distance is the focus next week in London, this week some of the world's best endurance multisport athletes will head to Spain to contest the 2012 Vitoria-Gasteiz ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships. The event has a strong history, with athletes like Simon Lessing, Greg Welch and Chrissie Wellington taking the titles in the past, and this year athletes like Enelko Llanos, Dirk Bockel, Chris McCormack, James Cunnama, Jodie Swallow and Caroline Steffen are aiming for gold. The 2012 world titles will be decided over a 4km swim, a 120km bike leg and a 30km run in Vitoria-Gasteiz, which is the capital city of the province of Álava in northern Spain.

About the race:
There have been 16 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships, and Denmark and Great Britain leading the overall medal tally with six titles each. Denmark have five men's and one women's, while Great Britain have five women's and one men's. The 2012 world titles will be decided over a 4km swim, a 120km bike leg and a 30km run in Vitoria-Gasteiz, which is the capital city of the province of Álava in northern Spain.

PAST ITU LONG DISTANCE TRIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Men                                                    Women
2011 Henderson ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Jordan Rapp (USA)                             Rachel Joyce (GBR)
2010 Immenstadt ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Sylvain Sudrie (FRA)                             Caroline Steffen (SUI)
2009 Perth ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Timothy O'Donnell (USA)                       Jodie Swallow (GBR)
2008 Almere ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Julian Loy (FRA)                                   Chrissie Wellington (GBR)
2007 Lorient ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Julian Loy (FRA)                                   Leanda Cave (GBR)
2006 Canberra ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Torbjorn Sindballe (DEN)                       Bella Comerford (GBR)
2005 Fredericia ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Viktor Zyemstev (UKR)                           Kathleen Smet (BEL)
2004 Sater ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Torbjorn Sindballe (DEN)                       Tamara Kozulina (UKR)
2003 Ibiza ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Eneko Llanos (ESP)                               Virginia Berasategi (ESP)
2001 Fredericia ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Peter Sandvang (DEN)                           Lisbeth Kristensen (DEN)
2000 Nizza ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Peter Sandvang (DEN)                           Isabelle Mouthon-Michellys (FRA)
1999 Sater ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Peter Sandvang (DEN)                           Suzanne Nielsen (DEN)
1998 Sado Island ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Luc Van Lierde (BEL)                             Rina Hill (AUS)
1997 Nizza ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Luc Van Lierde (BEL)                             Ines Estedt (GER)
1996 Muncie ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Greg Welch (AUS)                                 Karen Smyers (USA)
1995 Nice ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Simon Lessing (GBR)                             Jenny Rose (NZL)