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Daniel Unger (GER) won the 2008 ITU World Cup in Hamburg, Germany and thus repeated his victory on the course where he earned the World Championship title in 2007. Jan Frodeno (GER) finished second and Oliver Freeman (GBR) third.

Rumors have been flying around the internet for several days now and today Scott USA confirmed that they signed the 2 x Ironman World Champion Normann Stadler to race on their bikes and ride and run in their shoes.

Leon Griffin won the 2008 Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs event but had to run down long leading US ITU pro Tim O'Donnell. The women's race was won by Mirinda Carfrae who had her hands full with Joanna Zeiger and Joanna Lawn.

As the first half of this year draws to a close, is this a good or bad year for tri-specific retailers? We took the temp of some of America's best, asking them this question, and parsing their answers for a good look inside.

Tom Evans (CAN) won the 2008 Ironman Coeur D'Alene with a solid performance throughout the day. The women's race was easily won by Heather Wurtele (CAN) who outdistanced her closest competitor by over 10 minutes.

Rasmus Henning (DEN) repeated his victory at the Hy-Vee ITU World Cup and earned himself another big paycheck. Emma Snowsill (AUS) convincingly won the women's race. Hunter Kemper and Sarah Haskins grabbed the final US Olympic spots with their 6th place finishes.

Luke McKenzie (AUS) was victorious at the 2008 Ironman Japan in a course record time of 8:29:11 and can now add an Ironman title to his rapidly growing resume. Naomi Imaizumi (JAP) repeated in her home country as the winner in the women's race.

Marcel Zamora Perez (ESP) won the 2008 Ironman France thanks in part to a fantastic 2:45:21 run split. Martina Dogana (ITA) set a new course record as she took the women's title.

Contrary to speculations, the ITU Des Moines World Cup will be a swim-bike-run event and should thus remain the final qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Team, race organizers announced earlier today.

Several German newspapers have reported that a German man, with some connection to triathlon, was arrested last week at the airport in Verona, Italy, facing charges arising from making terrorist-sounding threats in order to delay his flight.

Terenzo Bozzone topped a fantastic bike split with the fastest run of the day to win the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Kansas. Craig Alexander and Leon Griffin rounded out the podium. Sam McGlone won the women's race after chasing Joanna Lawn for most of the run. Lawn held on to second and Linsey Corbin finished third.

Fraser Cartmell won the 2008 Ironman 70.3 UK and narrowly held off fellow Brit Steven Bayliss. Aussie Luke Bell finished third. In the women's race, Bella Comerford added another win to her resume. Julie Dibens took the runner-up spot and age grouper Sara Sig Moeller snuck into third place.

Javier Gomez (ESP) won the 2008 ITU Elite Triathlon World Championships and confirmed that he will be the man to beat in Beijing this summer. The Elite women's race was surprisingly won by Helen Tucker (GBR) who out-sprinted Sarah Haskins (USA) just before the finish line.

After taking the crown at Florida 70.3 just a few weeks ago, Paul Amey now also ran away with the title at the 2008 Eagleman Ironman 70.3 triathlon. The women's race was won by Joanna Zeiger who led the event from start to finish.

Alistair Brownlee (GBR) held of defending champion Gregor Buchholz (GER) at the 2008 ITU Triathlon World Championships in Vancouver, BC and took the U23 title. Wearing bib #1 just like Alistair Brownlee did in the men's race, Daniela Ryf (SWI) snagged the U23 women's title.

Reigning Ironman 70.3 World Champ Andy Potts and Great Britain's Leanda Cave beat back solid fields to win the Accenture Escape from Alcatraz triathlon, each defending their victories from a year ago.

Vincent Luis (FRA) took the 2008 Junior Men World Championship crown in Vancouver, Canada with a dominating performance. Denis Vasiliev (RUS) was the runner-up and Jonathon Brownlee (GBR) finished third.

Kirsty McWilliam (GBR) won the 2008 Junior Women World Championships in rainy and cold conditions. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) finished second and Zsofia Toth (HUN) rounded out the podium.

Terenzo Bozzone had to reel in Chris Lieto with a fantastic 1:14:18 run split to win the 2008 Ironman 70.3 Boise, after Lieto had posted the fastest bike split of the day. Kate Major looked solid all day as she captured the women's title.

Swiss triathlete Ronnie Schildknecht won the 2008 Ironman 70.3 Switzerland after battling Germany's Konstantin Bacher throughout. In the women's race Britain's Julie Dibens had her hands full with Swiss Nicola Spirig but ended up winning it on the run.

Chris McCormack used a super fast bike split to win the 2008 Hawaii 70.3 triathlon. Sam McGlone won the women's event over Tyler Stewart.

Eduardo Sturla had a convincing win and the fastest bike split at the Brazil Ironman Florianopolis 2008 after a relatively slow swim with two broken bones in his right hand. 44 year old Fernanda Keller won the women's race on her home turf and will now return to Kona for the 21st consecutive time.

The 2007 World Champion Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal won the 2008 Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup and with it became the ITU all-time world cup win leader. The race was the 20th win for 22-year old Fernandes in just 31st World Cup starts.

In front of an enthusiastic rain soaked home crowd, Javier Gomez won the 2008 Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup, the 200th in ITU history. With this victory he joined Brad Beven, Hamish Carter and Simon Whitfield as men with 10 World Cup titles to their names.

Massimo Cigana caught long time race leader Björn Andersson in the last few hundred yards of the 2008 Ironman 70.3 Austria and earned the win with a very impressive run split. Yvonne Van-Vlerken took the title in the women’s race.