It was dubbed The Race of Champions and it was nothing but with Olympic gold medallist, Hamish Carter from New Zealand taking the race in time of 1:47:33, only four seconds ahead of a fast approaching Under 23 world champion Jarrod Shoemaker from the U.S in 1:47:37. Shoemakers team-mate and reigning World Cup champion, Hunter Kemper (USA) finished a close third in 1:47:39.
I wanted a good race and to feel good but I didnt want to bury myself, commented Carter. I didnt know if I had it in me til I hit the carpet. I didnt know if the guys behind me had the legs to beat me so I gave it all I got.
Shoemaker had a break-through race at the 2006 Edmonton BG Triathlon World Cup with his first world cup podium. Shoemaker gave it all on the run, his strongest discipline, making it a race to the wire for the elated cheers of the gathered crowd of 10,000.
I had the swim I wanted, the bike I wanted. I had a terrible transition but on the run I was finally able to have my race, stated Shoemaker.
Kemper lead most of the race but in the end did not have the final kick to match the young Shoemaker.
I had a good start, lead the whole second part of the swim, stayed in the big pack on the bike but the run let me down, said Kemper. The other competitors had a good run and Im very happy for Jarrod and our American mens team.
The Mens race unfolded as expected with a large group containing Carter, Kemper, Bevan Docherty (NZL), Fred Belaubre (FRA), Filip Osplay (CZE) and Martin Krnavek (CZE) exciting the swim together and onto the bike. The chase pack with the likes of Shoemaker, Matt Reed (USA), Paul Tichelaar (CAN) and Terenzo Bezzone (NZL) eventually caught the leaders at the half-way point of the bike and it became a running race.
European champion Belaubre flatted after an attempted breakaway with Canadian Colin Edwards but still managed to ride the last half of the final lap coming in just behind the large group. Commonwealth Games silver medallist Docherty also flatted on the bike having to withdraw from the race in the early stages.
The group of thirty-two men headed out on the run in chase of Edwards. It was Carter and Kemper who quickly moved to the front pacing off one another while Shoemaker, Ospaly, Krnavek and Tichelaar trailed close behind.
It was the halfway point where Shoemaker made his move, bridging the gap to Carter and Kemper. It was Carter who made the last move, however, and was able to pull away on the final lap to take the gold.
Watch all the race highlights from Edmonton on Tricast now.
2006 BG Triathlon World Cup rankings Elite Men
1.KEMPER, Hunter (USA)148
2.KAHLEFELDT, Brad (AUS)111
3.PAIS, Bruno (POR)109
4.GOMEZ, Javier (ESP)109
5.POLIKARPENKO, Volodymyr (UKR)104
6.RANA, Ivan (ESP)101
7.FRETTA, Mark (USA)96
8.ATKINSON, Courtney (AUS)89
9.FRODENO, Jan (GER)87
10.POTTS, Andy (USA)83
Click here for official results.
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