Timothy Carlson’s late line for the 2009 edition of the historic, world’s fastest Iron-distance triathlon. Remember, even if you are enterprising enough to find a sporting palace willing to take your wager, following these odds will be hazardous to your wallet.

Matt Reed shows he’s a man with range, as the urber-tall 70.3 specialist (the half-giraffe?) outduels A-list short coursers. Sarah Haskins is an A-list short courser, and proved why

Young Brit Alistair Brownlee appears unbeatable these days as he now has won three World Championship Series races in a row with his victory at the 2009 Kitzbühel Dextro Energy Triathlon today.

Greg Bennett, nursing an injury, will give Life Time his best shot. Potts and Reed are the odds on favorites. Haskins, Wassner, Lavelle headline women’s field

Wellington, Csomor head powerful women’s field targeting Van Vlerken’s 8:45:48 world best Iron-distance time set at Roth last year. Normann Stadler is favored over defending men’s champ Vernay.

Leanda Cave, the dark horse with a world championship pedigree, and Erika Csomor, the odds-on second favorite: Portraits of two challengers to Chrissie Wellington at Quelle Challenge Roth

Quelle Challenge Roth: A Tuesday crash in which the proud 11-time Iron-distance winner Belinda Granger was hit by a car left her with sore abs, fingers splinted, and resolved to tough it out at Roth.

Looking back and to the future: In the final chapter of a two-part interview, the Dane whose name means Thunder Bear reflects on the meaning of his sporting career, his future with his growing family and new directions in work.

After a 110-mile train ride north from Munich, the Roth traveler changes trains in historic Nuremberg on day 2.

The pilgrimage to the classic Quelle Challenge Roth triathlon is a total experience to be cherished. Day 1 images from Munich.

In the last few months a few new TT bikes came out that virtually dated many bikes that seemed quite exciting not so long ago. Some of these machines are not available to the public, but the Giant Trinity Advanced SL soon will be.

It’s race morning, the weather appears to be cooperating, and we’re ready for a crackerjack race. The Slowtwitch coverage of the Life Time Fitness race is ongoing.

We just noticed a new aero helmet from Giro, limited edition glasses from Oakley, an inspiring and helping image print and a BAMF shirt from true-motion.

Lauren Groves earned her biggest paycheck to date when she finished a very close third at the recent Hy-Vee triathlon. She also helped her Canadian team win a bronze medal at the ITU Team Triathlon Championships a day later.

Timo Bracht defeated a stellar field on his way to take the Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championships in Germany in a course record time of 7:59:15. Sandra Wallenhorst took the women’s title in 8:58:08.

Belgium’s Marino Vanhoenacker took his 4th Ironman Austria title today in a course record time of 8:01:38. Bella Bayliss recorded her second sub 9 hour Ironman performance as she won the women’s title in 8:50:13.

A tribute to Torbjorn Sindballe for a decade of triathlon excellence by a Dane called Thunder Bear. Photographs by Timothy Carlson.

After a couple of fourth place finishes at 70.3 Florida and Kansas this year, Amy Marsh finally climbed to the very top of the podium at the Buffalo Springs 70.3 event in Lubbock, TX last weekend.

A look inside the red-hot sprint to the finish for the $200,000 top prize at the Hy-Vee Triathlon by top Olympic rivals contesting their close encounter for the second time.

Thunder Bear talks about a career with great highs – including an Ironman Hawaii bike record, a third place finish in Kona and an ITU long course World title — and heart valve troubles which prompted retirement at 32.

Today’s grab bag of interesting items includes a powerful pump from Blackburn, a tiny radio called NanoTalk, new brake pads from Zipp, an intriguing t-shirt from Headline Shirts and a waterproof camera from Canon.

The so-called shorty bar remains, in triathlon, the largest market served by no mature, ready-to-ride, product. 3T moves the ball much further forward with its new Zefiro.

Torbjørn Sindballe, the fierce-riding Dane known as Thunderbear to the triathlon world, must call it a career although still in his prime. A crowd favorite, the Danish Xpress can no longer ignore a congenital heart problem.

In a study just released, trace amounts of steroid ingestion can trigger a positive drug test, illustrating the ease by which athletes can end up on the wrong side of anti-drug programs.