January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

No 'Escaping' from McCormack's anger


By James [email protected] | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Deposed world Ironman champion Chris McCormack aims to unleash some 'pent-up anger' at losing his crown in Hawaii when he takes on the Escape to Bermuda challenge next weekend.

The confident Aussie, who insists new world champ Craig Alexander is 'borrowing my title', said victory in Bermuda would go some way to making up for the disappointment in Kona, where he led the race until a snapped gear cable on his bike forced him to pull out.

"There is definitely a lot more significance to the Bermuda event now.

"Those other guys (his rivals in Bermuda) are probably thinking about the end of the season. I'm thinking about redemption.

"There is a lot of pent-up anger and energy to unleash. I would love to win in Bermuda.

"It would be great to end with a victory after what happened in Hawaii."

McCormack said he felt frustrated that he hadn't had a proper chance to defend his World Ironman title.

"I feel like Ali when he got his title stripped from him and he never really lost it.

"I was in the box-seat, well in control and I was robbed of the chance to finish.

"I'm not saying I would have won but I would have loved to at least put up a fight.

"It took me six years to get that title and I was never going to give it up without a fight.

"That's the thing I'm finding most difficult to take. I feel like the title was just taken away from me.

"Next year is a big year for me. Those guys are just borrowing my title for a year and next year I'm going to take it back."

Target number one for McCormack, though, is winning in Bermuda next week.

He arrives on the island on Saturday and is planning to do a dry run of the cycling course with his old friend Tyler Butterfield, the Bermudian pro cyclist and former Olympic triathlete.

"I definitely want to catch up with Tyler. He's talking about coming back to triathlon with a focus on Ironman and I would love to work with him. He's a fantastic training partner and I get on really well with him.

"He's going to give me a tour of the course next week."

McCormack believes Bermuda's unique weather conditions could be a decisive factor next weekend.

"It's a small island and it's very much open to the elements. Judging the winds and knowing when to make a break could be crucial.

"You've got to stay out of trouble on those narrow roads and be aggressive on the early part of the bike."

McCormack, who trains for and is more used to the 2.4mile swim/112mile bike/26.2mile run Ironman distance, accepts the Escape to Bermuda - a mere one-mile swim, 24 mile bike and six mike run - will be more about speed than endurance.

He knows experienced short course athletes like Benjamin Sanson of France, U.S. Olympians Matty Reed, third last year, and Jarrod Shoemaker will be hard to beat at their own game.

But he's no stranger to this distance having won the ITU World Cup Series and the Escape from Alcatraz race before switching his focus to Ironman.

"These are the fastest short course guys in America. I know Sanson is going to be very strong on the swim and some of the others could be quicker than me on the run, but my bike strength might be superior.

"I'm fit and a lot fresher than I expected to be without a full Ironman in the legs.

"I definitely can mix it up with them. I've got the ego to do it."

McCormack, who last visited Bermuda in January to run coaching clinics for local triathletes, said it was a great venue for a world-class triathlon.

"It's an incredible destination for our sport. It's a beautiful little island. I think this race could become one of the major triathlons in North America.

"I'm bringing the whole family. We're really looking forward to getting there."

Escape to Bermuda

The race begins Sunday November 2, at 7:30am with a 1-mile swim at the West End of Bermuda.

Competitors will jump from high-speed ferries and swim to Dockyard.

Following the swim, a 24-mile bike ride will take the competitors along South Road to St. George's.

Then they will do a challenging six-mile run that finishes back in St. George's at King's Square.[[In-content Ad]]

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