Kris Gemmell of New Zealand makes it a sweep of the gold medals at the Huatulco BG Triathlon World Cup today, the final world cup of the 2008 season. Gemmells time of 2 hours 3 minutes and 23 seconds gives the 31 year old his fourth career world cup victory. In second place only nine seconds back was Jarrod Shoemaker of the United States with Frances Laurent Vidal in third a further 50 seconds back. This is Vidals first world cup podium.
This course was so hard, said Gemmell after the race. This was the hardest world cup ever.
Gemmell would lead from wire to wire for the win, emerging from the non-wetsuit swim with the lead group of 23 men. Early in the 40-kilometre bike leg Brian Fleischmann and Dan Alterman would look to break away on their own but did not make it very far and were reeled back in by the larger group. With a hilly and hot course, many breakaway attempts were made with hopes of cracking the competition. On lap six of eight, Gemmell pulled away to open up a 10 second gap but with no one willing to go with him, returned to the group leaving it to the 10-kilometre run.
I like it when its tough, commented Gemmell. Its hard to run fast in 40 degrees, let alone run at all.
Out onto the run course the fiercest competition would come from the rising heat and humidity. As the thermometer reached over 33 degrees Celsius with 98% humidity, over a dozen men would call it a day. The heat did not seem to faze Gemmell and Shoemaker though as they ran side by side, putting substantial time into the rest of the field. It was not until the final kilometre that Gemmell would put in his strong finishing kick and take the win.
Young Vidal continued his breakout season with his first podium finish, catapulting him into the top five of the overall series rankings.
Huatulco BG Triathlon World Cup
Elite Men - Unofficial Results
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Gold Kris Gemmell (NZL)2:03:23
Silver Jarrod Shoemaker (USA)2:03:32
Bronze Laurent Vidal (FRA)2:04:22
4 Thomas Springer (GER)2:04:40
5 Leonardo Chacon (CRC)2:04:47
6 Francisco Serrano (MEX)2:05:15
7 Michael Raelert (GER)2:05:22
8 Crisanto Grajales (MEX)2:05:32
9 Matt Chrabot (USA)2:05:50
10 Tony Moulai (FRA)2:06:21
Click here for updated rankings
Gemmell salutes the crowd. Click for gallery
El neozelands Kris Gemmell ha logrado hoy para Nueva Zelanda un barrido en las medallas de oro al ganar en la Copa del Mundo de Triatln BG de Huatulco. El tiempo de Gemmell de 31 aos de edad de 2 horas, 3 minutos y 23 segundos, le da su cuarta victoria de la copa del mundo de su carrera. En segundo lugar a tan slo nueve segundos lleg la estadounidense Jarrod Shoemaker y la francesa Laurent Vidal fue tercera a otros 50 segundos. Esta es el primer podium de Vidal en la copa del mundo.
Gemmel liderara la carrera de principio para conseguir la victoria, saliendo de la natacin sin neopreno con el grupo de cabeza de 23. Al inicio de los 40 kilmetros de la bicicleta Brian Fleischmann y Dan Alterman decidieron escaparse en solitario, pero no consiguieron una ventaja suficiente y pronto fueron atrapados por el grupo ms grande. Con un recorrido caluroso y escarpado, hubo muchas tentativas de romper la carrera. En la sexta de las ocho vueltas, Gemmell abri un hueco de 10 segundos pero sin nadie que le siguiese, volvi al grupo dejndolo para los diez kilmetros de carrera a pie.
Al inicio del segmento de carrera vendra lo ms duro de la carrera al subir la temperatura y la humedad. Con el termmetro por encima de los 33 grados y con una humedad del 98%, una docena de hombres diran que era su da. El calor no pareci importar a Gemmel y a Shoemaker que corrieron codo con codo, poniendo un tiempo sustancial sobre el resto de los participantes. No fue hasta el ltimo kilmetro donde Gemmel con su fuerte final se hiciese con la victoria.
El joven Vidal contina con su temporada revelacin con su primer podium final, catapultndole al quinto posicin de la clasificacin general de las series.
Copa del Mundo de Triatln BG de Huatulco
Elite Masculina Resultados no Oficiales
1.5km natacin, 40km bicicleta, 10km carrera a pie
Oro Kris Gemmell (NZL)2:03:23
Plata Jarrod Shoemaker (USA)2:03:32
Bronce Laurent Vidal (FRA)2:04:22
4 Thomas Springer (GER)2:04:40
5 Leonardo Chacon (CRC)2:04:47
6 Francisco Serrano (MEX)2:05:15
7 Michael Raelert (GER)2:05:22
8 Crisanto Grajales (MEX)2:05:32
9 Matt Chrabot (USA)2:05:50
10 Tony Moulai (FRA)2:06:21