New for 2010, the ITU has introduced segment rankings, which will reward the best swimmer, biker and runner throughout the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series. Athletes will be able to score points at each of the seven Series events, with the crown of best swimmer, biker or runner being awarded after the Grand Final in Budapest. In total, $60,000 in segment rankings bonuses will be awarded at the end of the season ($10,000 per gender, per each discipline).

This week we take a look at the bike segment rankings after three of seven Series races. Athletes score points based on their swim finish, with a total of 20 points going to the fastest rider at each event. At the end of the season (after the Budapest Grand Final), the award for best biker of the season and the $10,000 bonus will go to the male and female with the best five scores out of the possible seven Series races. A total of 100 points would mark a perfect score.

Currently leading the race for the best biker of 2010 on the men’s side is American Chris Foster with 33 points. The American posted the third-fastest bike split at the opening round of the Series in Sydney, and his 1:01:21 ride on a technical course in Seoul was the best of the day. Tied for second are Frenchman Tony Moulai and Portugal’s Bruno Pais, each with 20 points. Moulai’s 59:01 ride in Sydney was the best of the afternoon and helped him to a sixth-place overall finish, while Pais put up the best split on the very difficult Madrid bike course to finish 16th.

Leading the way for the women is Hungary’s Zita Szabo, who clocked the second-best ride of the day in Seoul and was fifth fastest in Sydney. Only one point behind the Hungarian is Germany’s Anja Dittmer, whose 1:05:04 40K time in Seoul was the best of the race. The only instance of an athlete using the fastest bike split to win an event came in Sydney, where Chile’s Barbara Riveros Diaz rode 1:05:25 en route to victory. Riveros Diaz exited the water in 31st out of 36 women in Sydney, but her strong ride was enough to pull her up to the lead group and set her up for the win.

Men
1. Chris Foster (USA)  33 points
t-2. Tony Moulai (FRA)  20 points
t-2. Bruno Pais (POR)  20 points
t-4. Daniel Lee Chi Wo (HKG)  16 points
t-4. Jaime Huggett (AUS)  16 points

Women
1. Zita Szabo (HUN)  24 points
2. Anja Dittmer (GER)  23 points
3. Jillian Petersen (USA)  20.33 points
t-4. Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI)  20 points
t-4. Elizabeth May (LUX)  20 points