Millward eyes Cairns comeback
DISAPPOINTMENT has driven Callum Millward to become more accountable and focused.
After missing the Hawaii Ironman cut last year, and then struggling through to finish eighth at Ironman New Zealand in March, the 33year-old knew something had to change.
Two months ago he came under the coaching umbrella of fellow Kiwi Bevan McKinnon.
Now living in Peregian Springs on the Sunshine Coast with triathlete partner Alise Selsmark, Millward is desperate for a return to the world triathlon stage.
“For me that (missing Hawaii) was disappointing – it wasn’t the result I was looking for, so that was the catalyst to get a coach and pull myself together,” Millward said.
“Missing Kona as a pro is a bit of a fail.
“That is the pinnacle of the sport, it’s what all the agegroupers talk about and it is part of defining success in our sport.
“I had gone in 2015 and 2016 and missed out in 2017. I just want to be a part of it again.”
He would struggle to find a tougher race to stamp his ticket to Hawaii than Ironman Cairns.
With five-time ITU and current 70.3 world champion Javier Gomez Noya making his Ironman debut, alongside the likes of American Tim O’Donnell, New Zealand powerhouse Terenzo Bozzone, and Aussies Cam Wurf, Tim Reed, Tim Van Berkel, Dave Dellow, Clayton Fettell Casey Munro, it’s set to be one of the best iron-distance races staged Down Under.
“I think a few people will throw caution to the wind and go big or go home,” Millward said.
“Dave Dellow is in that same boat where he probably wasn’t stoked with his DNF at Port Macquarie and the only way to get to Kona is to go big.
“Gomez, I reckon he’s either going to crush it or he’ll be walking at some point on the run.
“I don’t think anyone will be able to swim with Gomez and I don’t think he has the ability to ride away. Running at a four-minutes-per-kilometre pace on the run is not going to be difficult for him at all.
“With someone like him, he has done his research and the plot twist is always nutrition, and if Cairns throws out a hot day it will put everyone on the back foot a little bit more.”
Millward’s aim is to remain at the pointy end of the field to stay with the leaders on the bike.
It’s likely Fettell, Munro and Dellow will be among the stronger swimmers, while Wurf and Bozzone will be pushing the pace on the bike.
“The depth of the field is crazy,” Millward said.
“Hopefully I will have a front-row seat to see it unfold.”
MISSING KONA AS A PRO IS A BIT OF A FAIL. THAT IS THE PINNACLE OF THE SPORT ... I JUST WANT TO BE A PART OF IT AGAIN
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