blueseventy‘s big weekend of racing; ITU World Champs round up
10 Jun 2008
In Vancouver, Canada, the ITU World Championships for 2008 took place in drastically cold weather. So extreme was the chill and wind on the day of the Age Group races, the organisers had to cancel the swim leg of the entire male field as swimming conditions were deemed unsafe.
The following day was much calmer (although still as cold) as the Under 23 male and female triathletes took their starts. Whilst dressed warmly in his blueseventy helix, Alistair Brownlee (GBR) had a stellar swim that put him in the front pack which placed him in good steed to later go on to take the crown as World Under 23 Champion.
In the women’s elite race first and second places were decided early on when Helen Tucker and blueseventy’s Sarah Haskins considerably edged a gap with each lap in the bike and run. Tucker crossed the line as Champion with Haskins only split seconds behind. But the race of the day was arguably between another blueseventy athlete and Kiwi Olympic contender Sam Warriner and two Australians; Erin Densham and Emma Moffat. Warriner wore both Aussie girls to the line as she successfully sprinted to a bronze medal.
Warriner said post-race, “I was really pleased with myself today as I’ve done something I’ve never managed before, to get a medal at the world championships. I have never performed well at Worlds but today I put that record to bed.”
Congratulations Sam!
Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships, Canada
Elite Women – Unofficial Results
1.5km swim, 40km swim, 10km run
Gold – Helen Tucker (GBR) 2:01:37
Silver – Sarah Haskins (USA) 2:01:41
Bronze – Samantha Warriner (NZL) 2:02:32.85
4th – Erin Densham (AUS) 2:02:32.96
5th – Emma Moffatt (AUS) 2:02:34
6th – Felicity Abram (AUS) 2:03:35
7th – Sarah Groff (USA) 2:04:09
8th – Kate Allen (AUT) 2:04:14
9th – Debbie Tanner (NZL) 2:04:24
10th – Vanessa Fernandes (POR) 2:04:35
On the men’s elite side was another duel of the strongest as Spain’s Javier Gomez firmly asserted himself as triathlon’s best after winning his first elite world championship. Blueseventy’s latest athlete to join the team - Bevan Docherty, the world champion from 2004, took the silver just ahead of Switzerland’s Reto Hug. With enormous Olympic implications at stake, eyes were on Australian Brendan Sexton, American Matt Reed, Russian Dmitry Polyansky and Canadians Kyle Jones and Brent McMahon in several fascinating races within a race. Close to 50 men cycled in the lead group for most of the 40-kilometer bike course. In that group were several of the major players including Whitfield, Gomez, Belaubre, Reed, Reto Hug and Bevan Docherty. As the men hit the streets of Vancouver, the world championship was still very much up for grabs. After the first of three laps into the bike leg, the class of the field began to emerge with Gomez, Whitfield and Docherty pushing the pace the front. But it wasn’t until the second run lap the Spaniard began to challenge the other men with his usual blistering run speed. Gomez opened up a 15-second lead on Docherty and Hug with Whitfield and the rest of the field. In the end Gomez got to the finish line first with Docherty proving once again he’s a clutch performer by taking the silver. Hug, a silver medalist from 2005, held on for the bronze while South African Hendrik DeVilliers came across for fourth place. In another thrilling sprint finish, American Matt Reed edged out Whitfield for fifth place.
Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships, Canada
Elite Men – Official Results
1.5km swim, 40km swim, 10km run
Gold – Javier Gomez (ESP) 1:49:48
Silver – Bevan Docherty (NZL) 1:50:12
Bronze – Reto Hug (SUI) 1:50:17
4th – Hendrik de Villiers (RSA) 1:50:18
5th – Matthew Reed (USA) 1:50:27
6th – Simon Whitfield (CAN) 1:50:27
7th – Igor Sysoev (RUS) 1:50:28
8th – Tony Moulai (FRA) 1:50:31
9th – Paul Tichelaar (CAN) 1:50:32
10th – Ivan Vasiliev (RUS) 1:50:34