For the 16th time, Zofingen will host the World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships, and at the same time, the organizers can celebrate the 35th anniversary edition of the Powerman. This year, top athletes will once again compete in the city of Thut for World Championship medals. In the men's category, the Danish titleholder Simon Jörn Hansen will be challenged by the French athletes Émile Blondel-Hermant and Mathieu Bourgeois, as well as by the Swiss top duathlete Jens-Michael Gossauer and the German Fabian Holbach. In the women's category, the German defending champion Merle Brunée will face competition from the Swiss athlete Melanie Maurer and the Belgian Lotte Claes.
Last year, the athletes were confronted with several innovations. Due to the new route, they had to cover around 200 metres less altitude. In addition, the transition area and the finish line were now on the Schützenmatte. The Dane Simon Jörn Hansen took advantage of the new conditions to pulverise the winning time and finish the Powerman Zofingen long distance in under six hours for the first time. The prediction that the new course concept would make the Powerman even more attractive for participants and spectators has come true. One month before the race, the bike course was signposted. The GPX files for the run and bike course can be found on the website for all those who want to put the finishing touches to their preparations on the original course. With 10 kilometres of running, 150 kilometres of cycling and another 30 kilometres of running, the Powerman Zofingen is and remains the toughest and most beautiful duathlon in Switzerland. This year, the visual appearance of the event has changed. This is part of the renewal strategy, as Stefan Ruf, President of the Powerman Zofingen Association, explains: "In 2023, we successfully started our three-year complete renewal by adapting the course. The second step is now due this year: the introduction of the new corporate identity. The new colours and shapes give the event an unmistakable, fresh and dynamic image. They symbolise the start of the next decade without forgetting our roots and Swissness."
Hansen is in form
After his demonstration of power last year with a record time of 5 hours, 55 minutes and 39 seconds, Simon Jörn Hansen seems to be ready for the title defence this year. The 33-year-old Dane currently leads the duathlon world rankings over the long distance. After winning World Championship gold last year in Zofingen, Hansen secured the European title over the middle distance at the Powerman Alsdorf in May. So things are going well for the Dane, who became a father for the second time this year.
Blondel-Hermant in lurking position
Last year's World Championship runner-up, Frenchman Émile Blondel-Hermant, would like to have a say in the title in Zofingen: "I'd like to repeat my good performance from last year and finish on the podium. But I know that it will be a really tough race and that the competition is fierce," explains Blondel-Hermant, who has proven his good form this season with third place at the Powerman Alsdorf, the European middle distance championships. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old Frenchman believes that his preparation for the Powerman Zofingen could have been better: "My preparation this year has not been optimal. I have focussed on the sprint format, but I hope that the form will still be there in Zofingen." In fact, Émile Blonde-Hermant took part in both the European Championships in the sprint format in Coimbra, Portugal, and the World Championships over the sprint distance in Townsville, Australia, with the French team. He narrowly missed out on the podium at the European Championships, finishing in fourth place.
Bourgeois wants to get back on the podium
The 2022 long-distance world champion, Matthieu Bourgeois, experienced a major disappointment last year. Around three weeks before the Powerman Zofingen, the Frenchman had a serious crash in preparation, injuring himself in the process. Although Bourgeois came second on the bike in the race, his body was still too weak. He abandoned the race on the second bike lap. After the season so far, Matthieu Bourgeois feels he is in top form: "I have won four triathlons this year. The data is better than in recent years, so I'm looking forward to Zofingen! Even though the competition will probably be extremely strong." The 2022 Powerman winner and 2021 third place finisher has completed five weeks of altitude training in Font Romeu in the French Pyrenees. "I've agreed with my coach that I'll do fewer races this year to stay fresh for the end of the season," Bourgeois clarifies his ambitions.
Swiss hope Gossauer
From a national perspective, Jens-Michael Gossauer is the most promising trump card for winning a medal in Zofingen. "I want to be in top form at the start so that I can be among the front runners," says the St. Gallen native. Gossauer finished second in 2019 and 2021. Last year, the 31-year-old had to give up the race on his bike due to a pulled muscle. He wants to attack again this year. If he manages to get into a flow, then he is mentally unbreakable. That is certainly his general strength. "You have to be a complete athlete for the Zofingen course," says Gossauer. He has adapted his bike training accordingly. "While I've been particularly strong on the bike on the mountain in recent years, I no longer have to hide from anyone on the flat either. I can certainly make the difference when running uphill and downhill, the flat is less my thing." Accordingly, the runner from eastern Switzerland is not exactly a fan of the new route in Zofingen with fewer metres in altitude. He is very satisfied with how the season has gone so far: "Apart from the European Championships, I've been able to deliver in every race so far, have been Swiss champion twice and have won two other duathlons. My progress on the bike in particular makes me feel positive about Zofingen."
German medal contender Holbach
Germany's Fabian Holbach is once again a force to be reckoned with this year. With third place last year and second place in 2022, the 31-year-old has been the most consistent athlete in the last two years. Holbach is therefore ranked second in the long-distance world rankings, just behind Simon Jörn Hansen. Holbach finished seventh at the middle distance European Championships in Alsdorf. The German is almost guaranteed to be at the front again in Zofingen when it comes to precious metal.
Brunée for the third time?
In the women's race the big time favorite will be two-time long-distance duathlon world champion Merle Brunée. After her victories last year and in Zofingen in 2021, the German is also in impressive form this season. The 30-year-old has already won the European runner-up title over the middle distance this year. In addition, Merle Brunée is now also making her mark in triathlon. In June, she achieved a strong third place at the Ironman Nice, qualifying for this year's Ironman World Championship at the same venue. The German is therefore full of anticipation that she will be able to take part in the duathlon and triathlon world championships in September. Preparations are in full swing. "I'm currently doing great! I'm particularly pleased that I've been able to train continuously over the last few weeks with high volumes and lots of good training sessions and, above all, that I've been able to manage this volume alongside my everyday life as a doctor at the University Hospital in Heidelberg," says the German. Although there is a lot to suggest that Merle Brunée will be able to defend her duathlon world champion title, she is by no means expecting an easy competition: "My goal for this year is to get the very best out of myself and to experience another unforgettable race. I don't have a target ranking, because ultimately I can't influence what the others do in the race - but I'm looking forward to an exciting race."
Maurer's Last Participation
As the primary challenger to Merle Brunée, 36-year-old Swiss athlete Melanie Maurer will once again take the starting line this year. The native of Wikon has announced on social media that this will be her final participation in the long-distance Powerman Zofingen. Last year, Maurer finished just behind Brunée, crossing the finish line with a gap of about three and a half minutes, earning her the World Championship silver medal. The 2022 World Champion has already managed to defeat Brunée this season by securing the European Championship title in the middle distance at Powerman Alsdorf, ahead of the German athlete. Therefore, the almost customary and final showdown between these two top duathletes in Zofingen is not to be missed. Additionally, it’s important to keep an eye on Belgian athlete Lotte Claes. The professional cyclist has made it to the podium in the last two years. After winning silver in 2022 and bronze last year, Claes is only missing a World Championship gold.
Media accreditation now open
Media representatives can now register for the media conference and the competition weekend. The media conference will take place on 2 September 2024 at 11 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Aarburg-Oftringen. At the Powerman Zofingen, the media centre will be set up on Saturday and Sunday in the Reformed Parish Hall near the finish area.
Text: Christof Gerber
Picture captions: Podium men 2023 (from left Émile Blondel-Hermant, Simon Jörn Hansen, Fabian Holbach), defending champion Merle Brunée, defending champion Simon Jörn Hansen, podium women 2023 (from left Melanie Maurer, Merle Brunée, Lotte Claes).
Registration for media representatives for the media conference and the Powerman Zofingen: https://www.powerman.swiss/medien
Register now for the 35th Powerman Zofingen: www.powerman.swiss
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