We bumped into Christian B-Côté at the bike check-in at the Abu Dhabi Triathlon and this world traveler and first time triathlete became this week’s random age grouper interviewee.

We just got our hands on a test bike with the 2013 SRAM Red group. But before we get into the test, here is a closer look at the Trek Madone SSL Project One with this highly anticipated group.

Daniel Brienza is not only a fast racing age grouper, this team Timex athlete runs the triathlon business side of Life Time Fitness and makes sure that he spends ample quality time with his family.

I’m forced to repent of a long held tradition of mine in bike fit. I’m abandoning, in some cases, the use of body angles as a determiner of position appropriateness.

The CEO of the Challenge Family of triathlons, Felix Walchshofer, talks to Slowtwitch about events surrounding the purchase by WTC of one of its licensees, impacting a popular race in Cairns, Australia.

The popular Challenge Cairns race will be rebranded Ironman Cairns, according to World Triathlon Corporation. The rebranding will be effective this year, for the upcoming event scheduled for June 3, 2012.

Australians Brendan Sexton and Emma Jackson used race-best runs to win the 2012 Devenport OTU Oceania Championships in Tasmania Saturday.

Ben Allen outran Olivier Marceau and Renata Bucher blew the women’s field away to take the wins at the XTERRA Guam Championship Saturday.

We spent a few hours with Team Mountain Khakis / SmartStop and here is a gallery from that morning including a closer look at the Ridley team bikes.

Against an internationally acclaimed field, former professional cyclist Nikki Butterfield went for the kill with her ace and held on with a third-best run for a breakthrough $50,000 win at Abu Dhabi.

After his stunning 7:52:36 performance winning Roth in 2010, Rasmus Henning has been bedeviled by mysterious cramps and contemplated retirement. His Abu Dhabi win revived his high expectations and Kona ambitions.

We came across the Ratio Jet aero bars, Shimano cross disc brakes, the Argyle Power book, the Alpinstars HD board short, a Lezyne chain whip and the L’ Enfer Du Nord t-shirt.

In just his third year as a pro, Brian Lamar has moved up the ITU point list and appears to become a prominent racer. Largely unnoticed in prior years, Brian won the Panama City Continental Cup.

Doug Casa is in charge of the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut and knows quite a bit about sudden death in sport. We had a few words with Doug after the 2012 Team Timex Camp.

Inclement weather at the signature early season Ironman, in New Zealand, caused the race to be delayed by a day, with its distance cut in half. Marino Vanhoenacker and Meredith Kessler adapted and prevailed.

A $250,000 purse, a stellar international pro field plus 1,800 amateurs, a fascinating Middle Eastern venue and mild late winter temperatures mark Abu Dhabi as a highlight of the triathlon season. Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson

Rasmus Henning ran down local favorite Faris Al-Sultan to take the win at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Triathlon. Nikki Butterfield pulled away on the bike and held on during the run to take the women’s crown.

The last day before the 2012 Abu Dhabi Triathlon was busy with athletes getting one more swim in and then it was time already to check-in the race bikes into transition.

Andreas Böcherer will be very dangerous in Abu Dhabi and it is a bit surprising that his name has not been mentioned more often. We took a look at his Felt DA race bike.

Jodie Swallow, the 2009 ITU long distance World Champion and the 2010 Ironman 70.3 World Champion, is back after a frustrating, yearlong bout with injury and has no fear of anyone in this talented field.

Canadian Pro Rachel McBride arrived last night in the United Arab Emirates for the 2012 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, her bike unfortunately did not. At least not yet.

Some say Abu Dhabi’s 200 kilometer bike course and 20km run fits Chris Lieto like a glove. Triathlon’s fastest cyclist talks about his chances for the $50,000 top prize in his first crack at the United Emirates speedway.

A day before the 2012 Abu Dhabi Triathlon we had a few words with Rasmus Henning to get his feel on the race, what is next and a few other topics.

A look at the Julie Dibens-James Cunnama swim clinic with Abu Dhabi youth triathletes and a visit to the world famous Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. Photo Gallery by Timothy Carlson.