Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal and Javier Gomez of Spain won the inaugural Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup in the Portuguese capital today. With a 1,500 metre wetsuit swim and a flat and technical 40 kilometre bike, both athletes would run to victory on the final stage of the course to earn valuable Olympic qualifying points on their quests to represent their countries at the 2008 Olympic Games. In total, 153 of the worlds top triathletes would traverse the unique course, which runs through a stadium on each lap, eventually finishing to the cheers of 16,000 filled seats.
After exiting the water an unusual 36 seconds back from the leaders, the 2006 world cup series champion Fernandes, with determination on her face, was able to pull herself up to the lead group and run to gold in front of an estimated 40,000 elated Portuguese fans and the entire country watching on live television, in a time of 2:04:45. Veteran triathletes Michelle Dillon of Great Britain and Christiane Pilz of Germany were unable to catch the 21-year old sensation, finishing second and third, respectively. With the 15th world cup victory of her short career, Fernandes moves to the front of the 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup rankings.
To win in your country, said Fernandes. Where people can see how you compete and how you race I am so happy today.
Seventy-two women dove into the Atlantic Ocean to start the 2007 Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup under clear skies. From the starting horn it was Jill Savege of Canada, Sarah Haskins of the United States, Julie Swallow of Great Britain, Annabel Luxford of Australia, who would later have to withdraw due to mechanical problems on the bike, and Pilz who jumped to an early lead with Fernandes, Dillon and a number of other top contenders over 30 seconds down.
I had to push hard today for the first pack, added the European champion. Sometimes you are in the front and sometimes you are not. Sometimes you have to put your head down and work hard.
Out onto the 8-lap, 40 kilometre cycle through the Oriente district of Lisbon, Fernandes would not risk the possibility of losing the front group and was able to bridge the half a minute gap over the first five kilometres by herself. After building a small lead on the chase pack over the first few laps, the lead group would eventually be caught, bringing an enormous peloton of 49 riders together for the second half of the cycle leg. In the closing stages of the bike a crash unfortunately would end any chance for a podium on the day for a number top athletes, including top-ranked Joelle Franzmann of Germany.
On the 4-lap, 10 kilometre run course, Fernandes immediately pulled away and never looked back with the fastest run split of the day, 34:21, to claim her 15th world cup title.
To the cheers of thousands of spectators in the enclosed stadium finish, Fernandes was embraced by her father, who has only ever seen his daughter race once before, as she crossed the line. Dillon, who managed to come back from an 84 second deficit after the swim, was able to run herself into 2nd place with Pilz coming through in 3rd.
My father knows so much about me. He knows how I race and what I expect from myself, commented Fernandes as the full stadium chanted her name. He was so happy that my grandmother was able to see me race. It is very important to me.
This is fantastic, replied Pilz, on the chanting crowd. It feels as though you are pushed. Like running on a cloud. The crowds cheered for everyone out there. Not just the Portuguese.
In the mens event, the 23-year old Spaniard Gomez would also wait until the run to make his decisive move to breakaway from multiple world cup winner Filip Ospaly of Czech Republic and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia. Ospaly and Kahlefeldt would finish second and third, respectively. Gomez, who was out-sprinted a month ago by Kahlefeldt at the season opener in Australia, was hungry to get back to his winning ways after claiming the overall world cup series title last year. With his win, Gomez also moves to the lead of the 2007 world cup rankings and took home the lions share of the $US100,000 prize purse up for grabs.
It was a really hard race, commented Gomez, crossing the line in 1:52:41. I have been training hard the last month and I knew I was in shape and running fast. In Mooloolaba, I had 2 months of training and for me it was a very good race to finish second with little training. Today I knew I was in better shape.
A 17 degree Celsius water temperature would mean a wetsuit swim for the athletes today and this made the difference as no one was able to break away during the swim and would lead to a large group of 43 athletes on the cycle course. On the technical, criterium-styled course there were a number of breakaway attempts over the 40 kilometres with only a final attempt by Brent McMahon of Canada and Stuart Hayes and Oliver Freeman of Great Britain successful, opening a 20-second gap.
This would quickly be erased on the flat, 10 kilometre run course as many top runners including Gomez, Ospaly, Kahlefeldt, Jan Frodeno of Germany, Simon Whitfield of Canada and Rasmus Henning of Denmark would catch this small group after the first of four laps. From there it was Gomez who would pull away with his trademark acceleration at the 5 kilometre mark, dropping the other contenders. The 23-year old, engineering student continued to increase his lead to cruise home with a 30:54 run, the fastest on the day.
I wanted to be first out of transition with a really technical run it is not ideal to be in a pack, commented current Oceania champion, Kahlefeldt. I really pushed hard at the start. When Javier put the hammer down, I couldnt really respond.
Henning would claim the fourth position with his first race back from a year off due to injury. Young Freeman would round out the top five for his best-ever world cup finish.
The next round of the 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup series heads to Richards Bay, South Africa in one weeks time.
2007 Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup Elite Women results
FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR) 2:04:45
DILLON, Michelle (GBR) 2:06:06
PILZ, Christiane (GER) 2:06:30
HASKINS, Sarah (USA) 2:06:45
DUFFY, Flora (BER) 2:06:47
DI MARCO MESSMER, Magali (SUI) 2:06:53
SWEETLAND, Kirsten (CAN) 2:06:54
SPIRIG, Nicola (SUI) 2:06:56
DITTMER, Anja (GER) 2:07:03
FRINTOVA, Vendula (CZE) 2:07:04
2007 Copa del Mundo BG Lisboa BG Resultados Mujeres lite
FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR) 2:04:45
DILLON, Michelle (GBR) 2:06:06
PILZ, Christiane (GER) 2:06:30
HASKINS, Sarah (USA) 2:06:45
DUFFY, Flora (BER) 2:06:47
DI MARCO MESSMER, Magali (SUI) 2:06:53
SWEETLAND, Kirsten (CAN) 2:06:54
SPIRIG, Nicola (SUI) 2:06:56
DITTMER, Anja (GER) 2:07:03
FRINTOVA, Vendula (CZE) 2:07:04
2007 Lisbon BG Triathlon World Cup Elite Men results
GOMEZ, Javier (ESP) 1:52:41
OSPALY, Filip (CZE) 1:52:53
KAHLEFELDT, Brad (AUS) 1:52:58
HENNING, Rasmus (DEN) 1:53:09
FREEMAN, Oliver (GBR) 1:53:20
FRODENO, Jan (GER) 1:53:40
MARCEAU, Olivier (SUI) 1:53:50
VIDAL, Laurent (FRA) 1:53:52
DEHMER, Sebastian (GER) 1:54:03
WHITFIELD, Simon (CAN) 1:54:12
Click here for full results and photo gallery
La portuguesa Vanessa Fernndes y el espaol Javier Gmez han ganado hoy la primera Copa del Mundo BG celebrada en la capital portuguesa de Lisboa. Con 1.500 metros a nado con neopreno y un circuito de bicicleta llano y tcnico, ambos atletas corrieron a por la victoria en el tramo final del recorrido y ganaron unos valiosos puntos clasificatorios que les ayudarn en sus objetivos de representar a sus pases en los Juegos Olmpicos del 2008 en Pekn. En total, 153 de los triatletas de lite llegaron al ltimo tramo, entrando al estadio, terminando con los aplausos de 16,000 espectadores.
Despus de la inusual salida del agua 36 segundos por detrs de los lderes, la campeona del 2006 de las series de la Copa Mundial Fernndes, con la determinacin en su cara, fue capaz de entrar en el grupo lder y correr hacia el oro delante de aproximadamente 40,000 eufricos fans portugueses y el pas entero siguindolo en directo por las televisiones, en un tiempo de 2:04:45. Michelle Dillon veterano triatleta de Gran Bretaa y Christiane Pilz de Alemania fueron incapaces de seguir a la sensacional triatleta de 21 aos, terminando la segunda y tercera, respectivamente.
Ganar en tu pas dijo Fernandes. Donde la gente puede ver como compites y como corresYo estoy tan feliz hoy
Setenta y dos mujeres se sumergieron en el Ocano Atlntico para comenzar la Copa del Mundo BG de Lisboa 2007 de Triatln bajo un cielo despejado. En la salida estuvieron Jill Savege de Canad, Sarah Haskins de los Estados Unidos, Julie Swallow de Gran Bretaa, Annabel Luxford de Australia, que ms tarde tendra que retirarse debido a problemas mecnicos en la bici, y Pilz que salt a un temprano liderato con Fernndes, Dillon y otras favoritas 30 segundos despus.
Yo tuve trabajar duro hoy para estar en el primer grupo aadi la campeona Europea.
Algunas veces tu ests en la cabeza y otras veces no ests. A veces tu tienes que agachar la cabeza y trabajar duro
Una vez iniciada las 8 vueltas, 40 kilmetros en bicicleta a travs del barrio de Oriente de Lisboa, Fernndes no dej pasar la oportunidad de integrarse en el grupo de cabeza y fue capaz de acortar por si sola medio minuto en los primeros cinco kilmetros. Despus de crearse una pequea ventaja sobre el grupo perseguidor, el grupo de cabeza sera cogido, crendose un enorme pelotn de 49 corredores juntos para la segunda parte del sector de la bicicleta. En la parte final del sector de la bicicleta un choque desafortunado acabara con las posibilidades de podium de algunas favoritas en el da de hoy, incluida Joelle Franzmann de Alemania.
En las 4 vueltas, 10 kilmetros de carrera, Fernandes inmediatamente se fue hacia delante sin volver en ningn momento la vista, marcando el tiempo ms rpido en el segmento a pie, 34:21, consiguiendo as su 15 ttulo de Copa del Mundo BG. A los aplausos de los miles de espectadores que se encontraban en la meta del pabelln, Fernandes fue abrazada por su padre, que slo haba visto como cruzaba su hija la lnea una vez antes. Dillon consigui recuperar el dficit de 84 segundos acumulados en el segmento de la natacin consigui atravesar en 2 lugar mientras que Pilz atraves en 3 posicin.
Mi padre sabe mucho sobre mi El sabe como compito y lo que yo espero de mi misma. Coment Fernandes mientras el estadio entero cantaba su nombre. El estaba tan feliz de que mi abuela pudiese verme correr. Eso fue muy importante para mi
Esto es fantstico dijo Pilz, mientras el pblico animaba. Se siente como si fueses empujado. Como correr sobre una nube. El pblico animaba a todo el mundo. No slo a los portugueses.
En la competicin de hombres, el espaol de 23 aos de edad tambin esperara hasta el segmento de la carrera para hacer sus movimientos decisivos para alejarse del mltiple ganador de la Copa del Mundo BG Filip Ospaly de la Repblica Checa y del medallista de oro de los juegos de la Commonwealth Brad Kahlefeldt de Australia. Ospaly y Kahlefeldt terminaran segundo y tercero, respectivamente. Gmez, que fue batido un mes atrs por Kahlefeldt en la apertura de la temporada en Australia, estaba hambriento por volver a la senda de las victorias tras el ttulo de la Copa del Mundo BG del pasado ao. Con su victoria, Gmez se coloca lder en el ranking de la Copa del Mundo BG del 2007 y se llev para casa la mayor parte del premio de 100.000 dlares.
Realmente fue una carrera dura, coment Gmez, cruzando la lnea en 1:52:41. Yo he estado entrenando duro el ltimo mes y yo saba que estaba en forma y corriendo rpido. En Mooloolaba, yo haba entrenado slo dos meses y para m fue una gran carrera al terminar segundo con poco entrenamiento.
Una temperatura de 17 significaba la necesidad para los atletas de nadar hoy con neopreno, lo que provocaba que la carrera no se rompiese durante el segmento de la natacin y liderase un gran grupo de 43 atletas el segmento de la bicicleta.
Esto se modificara rpidamente en la parte llana, 10 kilmetros de carrera con la mayora de los mejores corredores incluidos Gmez, Ospaly, Kahlefeldt, Jan Frodeno de Alemania, Simon Whitfield de Canad y Rasmus Henning de Dinamarca cogeran este pequeo grupo despus de la primera de las cuatro vueltas. Desde aqu sera Gmez quien arrancara con gran aceleracin en la seal de los 5 Kilmetros, dejando atrs a otros competidores. El estudiante de ingeniera de 23 aos de edad continu incrementando su ventaja para llevarse a casa un 30:54 en la carrera, el ms rpido del da.
Yo quise estar el primero tras la transicin con una carrera realmente tcnica, no es ideal estar en un grupo coment el actual campen de Oceana, Kahlefeldt. Realmente empec con fuerza desde el principio. Cuando Javier dio el hachazo, no pude responder
Henning obtendra la cuarta posicin en su primera competicin tras permanecer un ao fuera por lesin. El joven Freeman redondeara las cinco primeras posiciones consiguiendo su mejor final en la Copa del Mundo BG.
La siguiente competicin de la Copa del Mundo BG de Triatln 2007 viaja a Richards Bay, Sudfrica en una semana.
2007 Copa del Mundo BG Lisboa BG Resultados Mujeres lite
FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR) 2:04:45
DILLON, Michelle (GBR) 2:06:06
PILZ, Christiane (GER) 2:06:30
HASKINS, Sarah (USA) 2:06:45
DUFFY, Flora (BER) 2:06:47
DI MARCO MESSMER, Magali (SUI) 2:06:53
SWEETLAND, Kirsten (CAN) 2:06:54
SPIRIG, Nicola (SUI) 2:06:56
DITTMER, Anja (GER) 2:07:03
FRINTOVA, Vendula (CZE) 2:07:04
2007 Copa del Mundo BG Lisboa BG Resultados Hombres lite
GOMEZ, Javier (ESP) 1:52:41
OSPALY, Filip (CZE) 1:52:53
KAHLEFELDT, Brad (AUS) 1:52:58
HENNING, Rasmus (DEN) 1:53:09
FREEMAN, Oliver (GBR) 1:53:20
FRODENO, Jan (GER) 1:53:40
MARCEAU, Olivier (SUI) 1:53:50
VIDAL, Laurent (FRA) 1:53:52
DEHMER, Sebastian (GER) 1:54:03
WHITFIELD, Simon (CAN) 1:54:12
Pulsar aqu para obtener todos los resultados y la galera de fotos