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.

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.

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.

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.

Amy Marsh held off fellow Austin triathlete Kelly Williamson and Paul Matthews topped fellow Aussies Leon Griffin and Simon Thompson to win Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3

Marcel Zamora Perez won the the very tough 2009 Ironman France in a course record time of 8:30:06. Tine Deckers ran down 22-year old Christel Robin late in the race to take the title also in a course record time.

In a reverse of the usual form, super-biker David Thompson lost ground on the bike but took his third Philly title in a row with his run; Rebeccah Wassner held off Canadian Kerry Spearing by 38 seconds for her third straight win in the City of Brotherly Love

Will the high-adrenaline, fast-twitch, sprint format charms of Team Triathlon win the hearts and minds of the IOC? If the action at West Des Moines is any indicator, triathlon might have another Olympic event.

Emmas Incorporated repeat Washington DC 1-2 domination; Emma Moffatt jumps to the head of the class with a 93-second margin of victory over Olympic champ and training partner Emma Snowsill and takes home $200,000 in West Des Moines.

Simon Whitfield gets $200,000 revenge for Olympic sprint loss, takes razor thin margin win over Kahlefeldt, Frodeno, Gemmell, Shoemaker, Gomez in six-man finishing sprint at Hy-Vee $1 million Elite Cup in West Des Moines

Just three and a half months ago, Sarah Haskins underwent surgery to repair damage to a nerve in her foot damaged when her ankle snapped on a crack in the pavement in a 2007 World Cup in Lisbon. Recovering fast, Haskins finished 5th and 4th in two World Championship Series races.

We introduce you to a nice co2 inflator from Portland Design Works, tri shoes from Louis Garneau, laceless racing flats from Zoot, a funky Tech T from Death Row Velo and some appropriate buttons for the current economic times.