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Laurent Jalabert competes at Ironman Switzerland

Former cycling star hopes to qualify for Kona.

Published Monday, January 22, 2007

Laurent Jalabert competes at Ironman SwitzerlandIronman Switzerland, powered by ewz, will feature an impressive debut this year. On June 24, 2007, former bike star Laurent Jalabert will compete in his first Ironman race.

The 38-year old Frenchman was one of the most famous bike pros in the nineties. At the Tour de France, he won the green jersey as the best sprinter twice (1992 and 1995) and also was the best rider in the mountains twice at the Grande Boucle (2001 and 2002). He claimd four stage victories at the most important bike competition of the world. Between 1995 and 2000, "Jaja" was, with short breaks, ranked first in the UCI world rankings. His triumphs included wins at Milano-San Remo, Flèche Wallone and Paris-Nice. Jalabert also came out ahead at the Vuelta (1995), the Tour de Romandie (1999) and the Lombardy round trip (1997). In addition, he won gold in 1997 at the world championships time trial. Jalabert retired from cycling after the 2002 season.

Jalabert, now a regular TV and radio commentator, changed from two wheels to two legs and completed his first marathon in 2005. In New York, he finished in 2:55, placing 391st among almost 37,000 runners. Last year he finished in Chicago (2:59) and London (2:57).
 
Now, the father of four children wants to try an Ironman. Two weeks before the start of this year’s Tour de France, Jalabert will compete in Zurich and dreams of winning a qualifying spot to the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.
 
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1850 athletes from 45 nations have registered at the Ironman Switzerland 2007.

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