A top NATO official on Monday said the alliance will expand its defense clause to include attacks in space, ahead of a scheduled summit between member state leaders.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, the coalition’s top civilian official, announced the group’s intention to expand Article 5, which says any attack on one of the alliance’s 30 allies will be considered an attack on them all.
“I think it is important [with] our Article 5, which states that an attack on one will be regarded as an attack on all, that we all will respond,” Stoltenberg said at a German Marshall Fund think tank event, according to The Associated Press.
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“We will make it clear at this summit that, of course, any attack on space capabilities like satellites and so on or attacks from space will or could trigger Article 5,” he added.
The U.S. Space Force was officially created in December 2019, after then-President TrumpDonald TrumpBiden prepares to confront Putin Biden aims to bolster troubled Turkey ties in first Erdoğan meeting Senate investigation of insurrection falls short MORE signed the annual defense policy bill that established the force as the sixth branch of the U.S. military.
That same month, NATO leaders proclaimed space to be the coalition’s “fifth domain” of operations, following land, sea, air and cyberspace, according to the AP.
The wire service noted that of the around 2,000 satellites orbiting earth, more than half are operated by NATO countries.
Biden is scheduled to participate in a NATO Summit on Monday in Brussels.
A House antitrust panel on Friday unveiled a bipartisan agenda made up of five bills that would give regulators greater authority to rein in the power of tech giants.
The bills put forward by leaders of the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee follow a blockbuster report released by the Judiciary panel last year alleging ways that Alphabet, Amazon, Apple and Facebook abuse their market power. The report was approved on a party-line vote earlier this year.
Each of the five bills unveiled on Friday includes a Republican co-sponsor.
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A bill sponsored by subcommittee Chairman David CicillineDavid CicillineHillicon Valley: House targets tech giants with antitrust bills | Oversight chair presses JBS over payment to hackers | Trump spokesman to join tech company | YouTube suspends GOP senator House unveils antitrust package to rein in tech giants On the Money: Tech giants face rising pressure from shareholder activists | House Democrats urge IRS to reverse Trump-era rule reducing donor disclosure | Sen. Warren, Jamie Dimon spar over overdraft fees at Senate hearing MORE (D-R.I.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Lance GoodenLance GoodenHillicon Valley: House targets tech giants with antitrust bills | Oversight chair presses JBS over payment to hackers | Trump spokesman to join tech company | YouTube suspends GOP senator House unveils antitrust package to rein in tech giants Roy introduces bill blocking Chinese Communist Party members from buying US land MORE (R-Texas) would prohibit tech giants from self-preferencing their own products on their platforms, targeting alleged anti-competitive behavior from Apple in its App Store and Amazon on its digital marketplace.
Another bill, sponsored by Reps. Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalHillicon Valley: House targets tech giants with antitrust bills | Oversight chair presses JBS over payment to hackers | Trump spokesman to join tech company | YouTube suspends GOP senator Simmering Democratic tensions show signs of boiling over Pelosi signals no further action against Omar MORE (D-Wash.) and Gooden, would eliminate the ability of dominant platforms to use their control over multiple businesses to self-preference or disadvantage competitors in ways that undermine free and fair competition.
Rep. Hakeem JeffriesHakeem Sekou JeffriesPelosi signals no further action against Omar House unveils antitrust package to rein in tech giants Wray grilled on FBI’s handling of Jan. 6 MORE (D-N.Y.) and ranking member Ken BuckKenneth (Ken) Robert BuckHouse unveils antitrust package to rein in tech giants Roy introduces bill blocking Chinese Communist Party members from buying US land Conservative group pressuring lawmakers with financial ties to tech giants MORE (R-Colo.) are sponsoring a bill that would prohibit platforms from acquiring competitive threats by dominant platforms.
This bill comes as Facebook is facing a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general that targets its acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram, and similar criticism has been raised over Google’s deal to buy fitness tracking company Fitbit.
Another bill sponsored by Reps. Mary Gay ScanlonMary Gay ScanlonHouse unveils antitrust package to rein in tech giants House Democrats to Schumer: Vote again on Jan. 6 probe Democrats introduce bill seeking to protect voting rights of people in subsidized housing MORE (D-Pa.) and Burgess Owens (R-Utah) would require online platforms to lower barriers for users and businesses to switch data to other services.
The final bill introduced Friday by Reps. Joe NeguseJoseph (Joe) NeguseHouse unveils antitrust package to rein in tech giants Overnight Health Care: House Democrats pressure Biden to expand Medicare | Intel community: Competing COVID-19 origin theories not ‘more likely than the other’ | WHO: Africa in ‘urgent need’ of 20 million second vaccine doses 70 percent of House Democrats pressure Biden to expand Medicare in American Families Plan MORE (D-Colo.) and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) would increase the filing fees paid to antitrust agencies for merger reviews. It’s a companion bill to one introduced by Sens. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHouse unveils antitrust package to rein in tech giants Democrats reintroduce bill to create ‘millionaires surtax’ Senate Democrats befuddled by Joe Manchin MORE (D-Minn.) and Chuck GrassleyChuck GrassleyHouse unveils antitrust package to rein in tech giants Iowa governor questions lack of notice on migrant children flights to Des Moines Senate crafts Pelosi alternative on drug prices MORE (R-Iowa) that was added to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act that the upper chamber passed Tuesday.
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Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been critical of the market power of tech giants, but House Republicans had been hesitant to back some of the recommendations outlined by Democrats in last year’s report.
Although the report did not receive GOP support, Buck at the time released a separate GOP-backed report that agreed with the majority’s staff views of the effects of big tech’s market dominance but opposed some of the recommendations.
In a statement announcing the legislation Friday, Buck underscored the need for immediacy on the issue.
“These companies have maintained monopoly power in the online marketplace by using a variety of anticompetitive behaviors to stifle competition. This legislation breaks up Big Tech’s monopoly power to control what Americans see and say online, and fosters an online market that encourages innovation and provides American small businesses with a fair playing field. Doing nothing is not an option, we must act now,” Buck said.
Cicilline touted the bills as a way to “level the playing field.”
“Right now, unregulated tech monopolies have too much power over our economy. They are in a unique position to pick winners and losers, destroy small businesses, raise prices on consumers, and put folks out of work. Our agenda will level the playing field and ensure the wealthiest, most powerful tech monopolies play by the same rules as the rest of us,” he said in a statement.
The bipartisan bills are already facing pushback from the tech industry.
Adam Kovacevich, CEO of Chamber of Progress, a self-described “center left” tech industry coalition, argued the legislation could lead to banning conveniences for consumers from Amazon, Apple and Google.
“Instead of focusing on helping families, these proposals inexplicably target a bunch of technological conveniences that most people really like,” Kovacevich said in a statement.
But other companies that have been critical of the leading tech giants, such as Spotify and Roku, cheered the proposed legislation.
The agenda comes as the biggest tech firms are also facing increased legal challenges over allegations of anti-competitive behavior.
In addition to the case the FTC and many states are beginning against Facebook, Google is facing a series of antitrust lawsuits from states and the DOJ.
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Last month, Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine (D) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the e-commerce behemoth has engaged in anti-competitive business practices.
The companies have all defended themselves against the allegations of anticompetitive behavior.
Apple is also facing antitrust allegations, but from the developer behind the popular Fortnite game, Epic Games.
The lawsuit in California federal court wrapped up last month and a decision is expected from the judge next month. The case revolves around Apple’s 30 percent commission fees for apps, and its requirement for developers to use the Apple in-app payment system.
Apple has defended its policies, arguing that it helps maintain privacy and security for users.
Former President TrumpDonald TrumpJack Ciattarelli wins GOP primary in New Jersey governor’s race House Judiciary Democrats call on DOJ to reverse decision on Trump defense Democratic super PAC targets Youngkin over voting rights MORE on Tuesday applauded Nigeria’s Twitter ban and called on other countries to follow suit.
Trump praised the West African country for banning use of the social media platform after the Twitter suspended the account of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari for comparing gunmen attacking national electoral commission offices to the Nigeria Civil War. The company deleted the tweet, saying it violated their abusive behavior policy.
“Congratulations to the country of Nigeria, who just banned Twitter because they banned their President. More COUNTRIES should ban Twitter and Facebook for not allowing free and open speech—all voices should be heard,” Trump said in a statement Tuesday.
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Nigeria indefinitely suspended Twitter’s operations in the country late last week.
Trump, an avid social media user during his 2016 presidential campaign and while in office, was permanently banned by Twitter for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Facebook also kicked him off its platform, recently extended his suspension until 2023.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned of a continentwide third wave of coronavirus cases in Africa as the continent’s countries see major spikes in COVID-19 infections.
“In the last two weeks, Africa recorded a 20% increase in cases compared with the previous fortnight. The pandemic is trending upwards in 14 countries and in the past week alone, eight countries witnessed an abrupt rise of over 30% in cases,” the world health body said in a statement.
The WHO believes the spike in cases on the continent is due to the African winter approaching, an increase in travel and a premature relaxing of coronavirus restrictions.
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Africa has had 3.7 percent of the world’s coronavirus deaths but only 2.9 percent of the globe’s reported cases.
“The threat of a third wave in Africa is real and rising. Our priority is clear – it’s crucial that we swiftly get vaccines into the arms of Africans at high risk of falling seriously ill and dying of COVID-19,” Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa, said in the body’s statement.
The WHO said that vaccine distribution has also lagged in African countries — 31.4 million doses have been administered in 50 countries in Africa, where around 2 percent of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. By comparison, 24 percent have been vaccinated globally.
In addition, almost 20 countries in Africa have already gone through 66 percent of their vaccine doses.
“While many countries outside Africa have now vaccinated their high-priority groups and are able to even consider vaccinating their children, African countries are unable to even follow up with second doses for high-risk groups. I’m urging countries that have reached a significant vaccination coverage to release doses and keep the most vulnerable Africans out of critical care,” Moeti said.
President BidenJoe BidenWHO warns of continent-wide third wave of coronavirus infections in Africa 30 House Democrats urge Biden to do more for global vaccine distribution Manchin isn’t ready to support Democrats passing infrastructure on their own MOREannounced Thursday that he would be sending 25 million vaccine doses abroad, 5 million of which are going to Africa.
Department of Justice lawyers asked a federal judge to dismiss lawsuits against former President TrumpDonald TrumpNY, NJ rail project gets key federal approval Senate meltdown reveals deepening partisan divide DHS formally bans family separations for illicit border crossings MORE, former attorney general William BarrBill BarrWatchdog pushes back on DOJ effort to block release of Trump obstruction memo How long will Trump remain immune? Federal appeals court tosses out challenge to bump stock ban MORE and other administration officials for the forced clearing of racial justice protesters at Lafayette Square last June.
The Washington, D.C., chapters of the ACLU, Black Lives Matter and other civil rights organizations sued the Trump administration and law enforcement officials for the use of chemical agents, rubber bullets and other violent action to disperse protesters before Trump walked across the square to pose for photographs with a Bible outside of St. John’s Episcopal Church.
The legal action also targeted the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and several specific officers in the actions used against protesters, who had gathered in the days following the police killing of George Floyd in May, 2020.
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The incident resulted in four overlapping lawsuits against the Trump administration and law enforcement agencies filed on behalf of more than 100 U.S., D.C. and Arlington County defendants.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs and the Justice Department presented oral arguments before a federal judge on Friday, with government lawyers arguing that Trump and other U.S. officials could not be included in civil lawsuits against police over actions taken to protect a president, The Washington Post reported.
Trump’s photo-op outside the church following the forced removal of more than 1,000 largely peaceful protesters has been viewed by critics as a political stunt.
According to the Post, Justice Department lawyers also argued Friday that because of Trump’s 2020 election loss, future violations are unlikely, adding that President BidenJoe BidenPutin backs up Belarus’s Lukashenko amid international pressure Biden administration to reimpose sanctions on Belarus over diverted flight Senate passes resolution urging probe into COVID-19 origins MORE’s administration does not share the same hostility Trump presented toward the wave of civil unrest and demonstrations that erupted in the months following Floyd’s death.
Meanwhile, ACLU attorneys argued that by dismissing the lawsuits, the court would “authorize brutality with impunity” near the White House. Washington’s ACLU legal director Scott Michelman said that U.S. authorities “could have used live ammunition to clear the park, and nobody would have a claim against that as an assault on their constitutional rights.”
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The Justice Department then responded by calling presidential security a “paramount” government interest, according to the Post.
After nearly three hours of oral arguments, U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of Washington said that she would deliver rulings on motions to dismiss the lawsuits “in the near future.”
The Hill has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.
Lafayette Square reopened earlier this month for the first time since it was shuttered following police’s removal of the protesters.
Will Clarke tackles his first race in the Middle East tomorrow confident that under new coach Mark Pearce he’s in his best shape for years.
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The Leicestershire triathlete joins a host of the world’s best non-drafting racers as well as a strong British contingent of Fraser Cartmell, Daniel Halksworth, David McNamee, Ritchie Nicholls and Joe Skipper on the start-line for the middle distance Challenge Dubai.
“I was trying to bully Mark into giving me more work last week, but he looked up my training stress scores on his phone and convinced me I was tired,” says Clarke after completing today’s final swim practice at Jumierah Beach. “He’s from a sports science background so has an answer for everything, can back up decisions with data and leaves no stone unturned. It’s a confidence-booster.
“Normally I’d be in South Africa or Australia at this time of year, but I chose to stay in England and take mini training camps away and I’m feeling good.”
Fifteen-month old son, Freddy, might have had an unwitting hand in the decision to stay in the UK this winter, but he’s been left behind with the grandparents for this one, as Clarke, supported by wife and designated Dubai driver, Clare, focuses on returning with a share of the $300,000 prize pot.
Facing standout favourite and four-time ITU world champion Javier Gomez, last year’s Ironman UK 70.3 winner at Wimbleball will need to be in peak form and admits there might be some rust to shake off having not competed since Lanzarote in September, a 70.3 he won in familiar surroundings with a 1hr 14min 50sec run split.
That victory, along with finishing 10th at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, gives him a healthy buffer of qualifying points for the Ironman World Championships in October and it’s a debut spot Clarke will look to cement with a top five at the African Championship race in South Africa next month or, if he “cocks it up,” another trip to Lanzarote in May.
Hawaii withstanding, he believes the promised $1,000,000 for any triathlete who can scoop all three Challenge Triple Crown events (Dubai, Oman and Bahrain) might be a little out of reach.
“It’s a bit too high in the sky,” he says. “I think you’re looking at someone who is world champion level to win it and I think Javier is the only one who can be consistent enough. The other longshot was Jan Frodeno, but he’s pulled out. It’s a massive ask to win all three, but then $1,000,000 is a massive prize.
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UPATE: A favourite for the women’s race, Holland’s Yvonne van Vlerken has withdrawn after slipping on stone steps and bruising her lower back and shoulder blade.
Daniela Ryf became the inaugural Challenge Dubai champion on the first step to what she hopes will land her a $1,000,000 payday by the end of the year.
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The Swiss triathlete must have performed a jig of delight when she woke to fiercely windy conditions in the Emirates’ state tailor-made for the all-round strength she’s honed under Australian coach Brett Sutton.
And she took full advantage by powering through to the fastest bike split (2:18) and run (1:17) to win by over four minutes in 4:05:01 from Canadian Heather Wurtele and Denmark’s Challenge Bahrain champion Helle Frederiksen.
Ryf, 27, the reigning Ironman 70.3 champion will now prioritise Challenge Oman in the summer and if successful Bahrain in December as she chases the biggest prize purse ever staked in the sport.
“I’ll discuss it with my coach, he’s kind of the boss,” she said. “The priority is Kona but the Triple Crown is a great opportunity and I’ve put down a great platform. I hope to go to Oman and step up another level.”
“It was really hard and choppy, but I had a fantastic swim, and then on the bike I was really struggling at the start,” she continued. “I couldn’t keep pace and had to drop, but after about 40km I started to feel better. In the run, I knew if I could keep the speed I’d be ok.”
Jodie Swallow was the highest-placed British woman in fourth after emerging second from the water 78secs behind the express-paced US star Lauren Brandon. After a strong bike leg in 2:22 Swallow just couldn’t hold off the charging Wurtele or Frederiksen on the beach-side run.
“I’m not really happy, I wanted a podium, but you can only do your best,” she said. “There was a bit of drafting going on but the right girl won. I didn’t know there was anyone in front coming out of the swim. It was tough and I couldn’t see anything because of the waves. I just felt flat on the run. What do I put that down to? It’s February.”
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Leanda Cave (4:25) was also in the prize money in eighth, with Alice Hector (4:34) rounding out the British contingent in 13th.
All eyes were on two athletes ahead of the men’s WTS season opener in Abu Dhabi: reigning ITU World Champ Javier Gomez and Great Britain’s Jonny Brownlee.
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The stats made for interesting reading too – Jonny Brownlee had won four out of the seven previous WTS sprint distance races, while this was Gomez’s 100th ITU race start, but he had never won at Sprint distance before. As it turned out though it was a different Spanish athlete, Mario Mola, that was the one to watch.
The men’s event followed a thrilling women’s race which saw 2014 champ Gwen Jorgenson put in a ferocious performance on the run to take the win during the hottest part of the day (full report here). The men’s race began two hours later at just after 5pm local time and followed the same 750m swim/20km bike/5km run course. Conditions were warm and breezy with a 28 degree air temperature and 23 degree water temperature meaning no wetsuits, but great conditions for a fast race.
The one-lap swim was fast and tightly packed, with Anthony Pujades (FRA) exiting first in 08:48 followed closely by Aurelien Raphael (FRA) and Richard Varga (SVK). Jonny Brownlee came out of the water and into transition 21sec down. That time was soon made up on the bike leg though as by the end of lap one of four Brownlee and Gomez were cycling side-by-side with the gap to the race leader reduced to just 4sec.
For the remainder of the bike a huge lead pack of around 30 athletes formed including Brownlee and Gomez alongside Mario Mola (ESP), Henri Shoeman and Richard Murray (RSA), Vincent Luis (FRA) and Joao Silver (POR), leading to a tense and frenetic T2 as athletes jostled for position.
A small lead pack of three formed in the run shortly after T2 of Richard Murray, Mario Mola and Vincent Luis. Initially it looked like Brownlee and Gomez could bridge the gap from the chase pack, but at the halfway point and with 2.5km to go the gap was extended to 10 sec.
Shortly after, Mario Mola kicked early to put some serious pace into the run and managed to hold on until the finish – taking the win in 52:32 and achieving his second ever WTS podium gold, with Luis second and Murray third. Fourth was taken by Silva, while Jonny was fifth and Gomez sixth.
Interviewed post-race, Mola said: “I knew how fast Luis and Murray were [when sprinting] so I tried to put the hammer down before that… In the run I put in 110 per cent.”
Full results and splits here.
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What did you think of the race? Let us know in the comments below!
Following the release last week by the UCI of its latest Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) report, we wanted to get a read on the implications for triathlon and triathletes. So we asked Clean Protocol founder Teague Czislowski, together with his head of science Dr Mike Puchowicz M.D, for their thoughts…
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The recent UCI CIRC report is a reminder of the choice that athletes face; accept the current state of anti-doping which has enabled the culture of doping in countless sports or recognise the need for change and action.
The report confirms to us again that with each new sports doping scandal inquiries are held and reports are written with recommendations hoping to bolster the anti-doping system such as the formation of WADA, a 50% haematocrit test the bio-passport, blood testing, a whereabouts system, out of competition testing, in sleep testing and so on. Each revision is accompanied by an easy and compelling public relations narrative championed by those with an interest to get back to business as soon as possible.
Unfortunately the response from some athletes and their sports entourage is to simply adopt ever more evasive doping practices. This pattern continues until the next doping scandal emerges. The cycle repeats because the imbalance between the incentives to cheat versus any resistance or reason not to cheat is never disrupted.
Like most previous reports or inquiries into doping practices, the report is ultimately another study of failure. While important, the isolated study of past failure creates expertise only in further failure. It is not surprising then that there were few new revelations or insights in the report. It was already well known that the doping culture is deeply entrenched in cycling. What is surprising though is that hope continues to be put on each new torch bearer that emerges in the procession of scandal: 1984 Olympics, PDM, Festina, Human Plasma, Freiburg Clinic, Operation Puerto, Oil for Drugs, USADA, Mantova, Padova, Astana, CIRC.
People cheat because they want to profit from the deception, but they also have a need to see themselves as fundamentally good people. That is only possible if they believe everyone is doping or it is condoned by those around them. Such acceptance of doping results in a fundamental loss of credibility, the sports ecosystem shrinks as sponsors leave and clean athletes retreat. There are winners, but they are mostly unworthy and do not deserve the benefits of sport.
The CIRC report identifies correctly what needs to be done but offers no solutions when it concludes: “Only the participants themselves can decide when enough is enough, and act to effect change…It remains of great importance that all stakeholders, of which the public is one, get behind clean riders and teams.”
Triathlon as a relatively new sport still has the chance to distinguish itself as a clean sport. But to do so requires action not empty words and public relations efforts.
In that light we established the Clean Protocol as an action plan for athletes to demonstrate they are clean. It does this by using scientifically validated tests for the athlete and their entourage as a health check and then uses ocular motor deception testing to determine whether their sports performance is credible. Instead of catching cheats in ever ingenious ways it focuses on identifying those who are doing the right thing and creates the social context for clean sport to emerge.
In triathlon there is reason for hope with the ‘Kona 9’. Nine professional triathletes (James Cunnama, TJ Tollakson, Luke McKenzie, Andrew Starykowicz, Daniel Halksworth, Harry Wiltshire, Sara Gross, Jodie Swallow, and Mary Beth Ellis) who at some personal risk took the Clean Protocol in the days before the 2014 Ironman World Championships. They have shown that it is possible to disrupt the cycle of failure in anti-doping. They are the future of clean sport, get behind them.
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What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
The waiting is nearly over – this year’s British Duathlon Championships will be held tomorrow (Saturday 21 March) at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, with over 1,000 athletes expected.
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The event is part of the 12th Clumber Park Duathlon, which features both sprint and standard distance duathlon races, the latter acting as the British Championships.
Set within Nottinghamshire’s National Trust Country Park, the run sections for both races take place on fully closed tarmac roads, featuring a slow incline on the way out before a fast decent into transition and the finish area.
The bike course in Clumber Park takes place on a mixture of open and closed roads, but with an undulating terrain, the final run is set to be even more challenging. For race tips from Darren Sharpe of RAF Triathlon, head here.
Clumber Park also offers a picturesque location in which to qualify for the Great-Britain Age-Group Team. The standard distance event provides the final opportunity to qualify for the 2015 ITU Standard Distance Duathlon World Championships in Adelaide, with Dambuster Duathlon and Oulton Park Spring Duathlon having decided the initial spots earlier this month.
Both races also act as qualifiers for further ITU World Championships taking place this year and ETU European Championships taking place in 2016. Visit the British Triathlon website to find out more.
Returning British Age-Group Duathlon Champions from 2014 are Joanna Wright (F20-24), Julian Lings (M25-29), Peter Ellis (M30-34), Hannah Troop (F30-34), Phil Melling (M35-39), Jim Burdett (M45-49), Wendy Nicholls (F45-49), Mick Anglim (M65-69) and Vernon Thomas (M70-74).
If you intend to qualify for the 2015 ITU Standard Distance Duathlon World Championships in Adelaide at Clumber Park Duathlon, you must be a valid Home Nation member and register your intent to qualify by 5pm today.
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Will you be racing at Clumber Park this Sunday? Let us know in the comments below!