Baker bids for French title

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 96

Baker bids for French title

By

MALCOLM CONDIE

The world champion triathlete, Erin Baker, is in top form as she makes her bid for the middle distance Nice triathlon, in France tomorrow (N.Z. time). It has been two years since Baker competed in the Nice triathlon and in 1986, after finishing nine minutes clear of her nearest rival she was disqualified for accepting a drink from a spectator, her sister, Philippa. She also raced in Nice the previous year, winning on that occasion. With the Hawaii Ironman only two weeks after the Nice meet last year Baker gave the French race a miss. This year, Baker’s plans have been going smoothly. A month ago she won the first triathlon in the threerace, world series in Kelowna, Canada. Nice is the second race in that series and the gruelling Hawaii Ironman in a month’s time is the final race. In past weeks Baker has been concentrating on her training and in particular her nutrition according to her training adviser, Dr Johan Hellemans, of Christchurch. “Erin has lost more weight this year, which means she is fitter,” Dr Hellemans said last evening. In the past a variety of mix-ups have hindered Baker's preparation but her build-up to Nice has been without incident. “Most years we have had uphill battles with visas and things,” Dr Hellemans said, “this year Erin hasn’t got any of that, she’s going well.” Just last week-end Baker won a short course triathlon in Geneva by a big margin. “She’s really improved her fitness in the past months,” Dr Hellemans .said. Her main competition in the 3km swim—l2okm cycle—32km run will be Colleen Cannon of the United States. Cannon was fourth to Baker iin the Kelowna short ''course

race last month and second to her in the 1985 Nice triathlon. According to Dr Hellemans, Cannon has been working on her fitness and has improved remarkably in recent months. Dr Hellemans thinks the course will be to Baker’s liking. “It suits Erin because it is hilly. There is one leg in the cycle where there is a 20min climb.” Baker is confident this year also that she will have no repeats of the 1986 incident. Dr Hellemans said “the race is in different hands now as far as the organisation goes. It has been better organised and has been tight: ened up. There will be no problems in that regard.” As well as tightening up the rules organisers have made a slight change to the course adding an extra hill to the cycling leg. Although this should make times slower compared to other years, the change should suit Baker. What will be on Baker’s mind is the fact that she still, has to compete in the Hawaii triathlon next month. “I think she will go 90 per cent rather than 100 per cent and just keep an eye on her main competition,” Dr Hellemans said. Baker aims to win all three of the world championship triathlons but must keep in mind that the Hawaii Ironman is only four weeks away.