Fernandes wins the ITU Aqaba World Cup
(10 March 2006)
For immediate release
JORDAN, Aqaba Twenty-eight women dived into the picturesque calm waters of the Gulf of Aqaba today for the second installment of the 2006 ITU World Cup Series. Shadowed by the mountains of neighbouring, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt the womens race saw Vanessa Fernandes (POR) run away from the field and take a commanding victory in 1:59:43.
This is my first time in Jordan, said Fernandes. I fell on the bike but got back up. The crash did not affect me and I was in good position for the run. I did not feel good during the swim or the bike but I worked hard for the win.
Fernandes, who was down by over a minute after the swim, was involved in a crash during the first lap of the bike but got back up and organised the second chase group that eventually caught the leaders.
Joelle Franzmann (GER) made a breakaway during the first stages of the bike in an attempt to catch the leaders but chose wisely to wait for the group. She was part of the large group of twenty four athletes coming off the bike together and battled with Laura Bennett (USA) for most of the run. Franzmann pulled away on the last lap clinching her second silver medal in as many weeks with a time of 2:00:47.
I went back to Germany after Doha and then to Jordan, Franzmann stated. I had a bad swim and bike but a good run. I am very pleased with the way my season has started.
Laura Bennett (USA) rounded out the podium with another third place finish in a time of 2:01:01. Bennett, who led most of the day, took both the swim and first bike primes, with Zita Szabo (HUN) taking the third. Bennett and teammate Sarah Groff (USA) tried to get away during the opening stages of the bike but sat up and let them selves be overtaken as their lead was diminishing.
Ricarda Lisk (GER) and Tania Haiboeck (AUT) finished fourth and fifth respectively with their best ever World Cup performances. These two young women are ones to watch as the 2006 season unfolds
His Royal Highness Prince Feisel Al Hussein, President of the Jordan Olympic Committee, watched with great excitement as the womens race unfolded.
We are very pleased to host the ITU and its athletes from around the globe in Jordan. said HRH Feisel. By organizing an event of this character and esteem we hope to showcase Jordan and the Jordanian people to the world.
Dozens of cameras and media were present as Jordanian national television and radio broadcasted the event live to the entire country.
The 2006 ITU World Cup series takes a brief hiatus next and then returns for the ITU Mooloolaba World Cup on March 26th.
2006 ITU Aqaba World Cup Elite Women
1.FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR)1:59:43
2.FRANZMANN, Joelle (GER)2:00:47
3.BENNETT, Laura (USA)2:01:01
4.LISK, Ricarda (GER)2:01:36
5.HAIBOECK, Tania (AUT)2:01:45
Click here for full timing and results.
Click here for official photo gallery.