Australian Short Course Phenom Craig Alexander Joins Superteam

(DUBAI, UAE) In its sophomore year as an international triathlon team, the superteam of Tri-Dubai was missing something. They couldn't put their finger on it. The team was as solid—if not more—than last year's with additions of Canadian Lisa Bentley and American Desiree Ficker, not to mention the resigning of seven of last year's 10 athletes with a collective six Ironman World Championships between them.

But something was missing. Sure the team started competing more heavily in shorter long-course events including the new Ironman 70.3 series, other half-iron distances and numerous other upcoming events across the country including Alcatraz and Los Angeles, but the potential of a real super team—one than spans triathlon race distances of all types—was still a step away for Tri-Dubai, especially with British stud Simon Lessing's move up to longer distances.
This week Tri-Dubai signed Australian Craig Alexander to round out the team, a good business move from the Boulder-based management company, The Human Interest Group. Alexander is a master of the highest-profile short course races.

With nine team members this year, Tri-Dubai thought it had capped its team for the 2006 season with members who would contribute to helping Tri-Dubai spread the message of the emirate, donate to charity and—let's be honest—win.
But Alexander has a unique group of abilities to offer. Something Tri-Dubai couldn't pass up.

"I am extremely excited about joining such a high profile team as Tri-Dubai," said Alexander from his Boulder summer training home. "It is an honor to be associated with so many other great athletes and I see this as a huge opportunity for me. It is quite a unique situation, where a triathlon team endeavors to promote the sport while also supporting a variety of charities."

The backbone of Tri-Dubai is formed with numerous Ironman champions, including fellow Aussie countryman Chris Legh, but Alexander's winning ways and character made him a good investment.

"What we see in Craig is his intensity on the course, and his low-key demeanor off of it," says Director Sportif Tony DeBoom. "He is the perfect fit to add to our stable of great champions."

In just his last two years of racing, Alexander has notched wins at some of the world's most premiere events, including the Spirit of Racine, Chicago, LA, 5430, Noosa and Port of Tauranga triathlons, plus US Pro and Australian Sprint Championships and the sport's biggest pay-day at Minneapolis' Life Time Fitness Triathlon. Already this year he's won the St. Croix Half Ironman and the Australian Long Course Championships.

Alexander will make his Team Tri-Dubai debut at this weekend's Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco, California, and all efforts are being made to get Crowie in his first Tri-Dubai jersey, a rush job to say the least.

Craig Alexander's Remaining 2006 Races*
Muskoka Triathlon
Lifetime Fitness Triathlon
The Spirit of Racine Triathlon
The Wilkes-Barre Triathlon
5430 Long Course Triathlon
Accenture Chicago Triathlon
Los Angeles Triathlon
Noosa Triathlon
Ironman World Championships 70.3
ITU Long Course Triathlon World Championships
(*schedule tentative and subject to change)

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Tri-Dubai is an international triathlon team under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. The team is managed by the Human Interest Group of Boulder, Colorado.

The athletes of Tri-Dubai have come together in an effort to bring awareness and support to various charities across the globe while introducing the world to the incredible opportunities that abound in Dubai through both business and leisure.