Race Previews

Daring to Tri...

Wednesday, 24 August 2011 04:00

Maple Grove Dare to Tri / TriStar 111 Preview - We think the name "Maik" is pronounced "Mike." Not sure, though. Maple Grove Tri co-founder/director, Lindsey Kurhajetz (pronounced "Kurr-High-etts"), who was featured in and on Triathlete Magazine's Swimsuit Issue (She was on the cover of the July issue!), thinks that the correct pronunciation is "Make." She's not sure, either.

We suspect that neither one of us is right. It's a German name and those folks talk differently than we do.

We want to pronounce the name correctly because the owner of that moniker, Maik Twelsiek, totally deserves the respect. He's one of the premier long distance triathletes in the Welt (German for "World") today and will be part of the pro field in Saturday's TriStar 111-Minnesota, an exciting European-style bike-heavy companion event to...

the 2nd annual Maple Grove Dare to Tri, which finished 2nd in the polling for Triathletes Choice Favorite Race of the Year in 2010.

What has Maik (photo L) done to make him an international triathlon star, you ask?

Well, he has won Ironman Wisconsin before (2007). And Ironman Lake Placid (2009), too.

Yeah, but what has he done lately, you ask?

He has 2nd place finishes in 2011 at two of the toughest Ironman races in North America: St. George and Coeur D'Alene.

We think he'll keep his string of 2nds alive this weekend. Yup, he's our pick top finish 2nd behind clear fave, Chris McCormack, the two-time Hawaiian Ironman World Champion (2010, 2007) and winner of TriStar111-Nevis earlier this season. We're not talking about the Nevis in northern Minnesota, of course. We're talking about the Caribbean island in the archipelago called the Lesser Antilles. If you're not too good with geography, Nevis is in the water between Puerto Rico and Antiqua.

We must admit that we are not adamant in our support of Twelsiek as the men's runner-up. Our fingers are crossed in favor of St. Paul pro Devon Palmer claiming the second highest podium step. He'll need to come off the bike with a substantial lead to make that happen.

And he's capable of doing just that! This guy can turn the cranks with the best of 'em.

There is only one female pro entered in the 111. Her name is Amy Kloner (photo R). She's from Atlanta, Georgia, (but is now based in Phoenix, Arizona) and is a total hoot, in addition top being a great endurance athlete. She's exuberant, fun-loving, extremely gregarious and totally pretty. Don't be shy about about meeting her this weekend.

A pro since 2008, Amy is a former Gulf Coast Half and Powerman Alabama champion.

Two amateurs will round out the women's 111 podium on Saturday. We think that Julie Hull, Jenny Wilcox, both of whom are rebounding from early-season injuries and life stuff, or the mercurial April Morgan will do that.

Who will be the Top Amateur on the men's side? Our pick is Matthew Payne, though veteran long distance guy, Josh Riff, who has yet to race in a 2011 multi, may be the dude to do so. The Payne/Riff match-up, like the Hull/Wilcox/Morgan competition, will make for great theater on Saturday.

Oh yeah, let's not forget about the 2nd annual Dare to Tri races. We are giddy with anticipation of the Olympic battle between defending champ Cathy Yndestad and Becky Youngberg and Claire Bootsma. All three of these talented girls are in the running for 2011 Minnesota Triathlete of the Year. This head-to-head-to-head battle will be fierce, exciting and very revealing.

The men's Olympic winner on Saturday? We think that Steve Sander will be that man.

As for the Sprint race, we predict that Nordica Stocker (photo L), who is such a cool person, will garner her first career win. We suspect that the same thing will occur on the men's side, i.e. a heretofore winless athlete will win. (We're picking Jen Neuman, winner at Albert Lea and Lake Marion Sprint, to place 2nd.)

We have no idea who that guy will be, and we're anxious to find out. We love it when a race gives birth to a new star, as this event did in 2010, when a total unknown named Claire Bootsma was the surprise winner.

For those of you who don't know, Claire finished 6th overall