German triathlete Anja Dittmer has just won the 2006 BG Triathlon World Cup in Cancun Mexico. Dittmers time of 2:01:52 was only 11 seconds faster then her German teammate Joelle Franzmann who was able to finish in second place. Rounding out the podium a further 14 seconds back was Andrea Whitcombe from Great Britain.
This is my first world Cup win for two years. The last one was actually here in Cancun so I am really happy that I was able to win today, said Dittmer, who has not had a world cup victory since 2004. It is really hard to win a world cup since Vanessa [Fernandes] has been here, but now I am really happy that I could win today.
Eighty-two women from twenty-eight countries entered the water this morning under dark skies to start the fifteenth installment of the newly renamed 2006 BG Triathlon World Cup series. Choppy waters and a strong current made for slower then usual swim times over the opening 1,500 metre swim. At the end of the two-lap swim it was a small lead group of four athletes including current World Junior Champion Kirsten Sweetland from Canada, fourth ranked Laura Bennett and her teammate Sarah Haskins from the United States and Machiko Nakanishi from Japan.
Less then 10 seconds behind was a large string of women including the likes of Dittmer, Franzmann, Whitcombe, Ainhoa Murua (ESP), Ricarda Lisk (GER), Leanda Cave (GBR), Julie Swail (USA) and Flora Duffy (BER). Out on the flat and fast 40 kilometre bike course a lead group of 18 women formed at the front as the skies opened up to batter the athletes with torrential rain.
This morning I saw lightening and I was really worried, commented Dittmer. But on the race there was just rain. It was really wet and wild on the bike.
Over the 8-lap bike course this lead group continued to put time into the large chase pack despite menacing conditions. The chase group, containing some of the tours strongest runners including fifth ranked Lauren Groves of Canada and recent Team World Champion member Nadia Cortassa of Italy, had fallen behind by over 60 seconds heading into transition two.
Out onto the four-lap, 10 kilometre run course a group of 6 women, including the three eventual podium winners, moved quickly to the front and worked well together, feeding off each other for the first five kilometres of the run. It was at the end of the second lap that the two Germans made their move, breaking away from the group.
I tried to run away from the group and then on the third loop Anja saw this and came to the front so we could run together, commented Franzmann. I know that Anja is a strong sprinter so I didnt try to win as she is so strong. I am happy with second place.
Into the last kilometre it was the Dittmer who managed to pull away and cruised to the finish to take the top podium spot. Franzmann was able to secure her second place in the overall ranking with her silver medal, soon to take home her share of the year-end US$250,000 bonus pool.
I have never had this success before and have never had such a good season as this year, said Franzmann on her three second place finishes and a win. I am very proud and hope to improve for next year ahead of the Olympics.
Whitcombe battled with fourth place Murua over the last 300 metres managing to overcome the quick Spaniard to claim the bronze medal.
Dont forget to check back later for the post race Tricast where we will brink you full video highlights of todays race.
2006 Cancun BG Triathlon World Cup results Elite Women
1.DITTMER, Anja (GER)2:01:52
2.FRANZMANN, Joelle (GER)2:02:03
3.WHITCOMBE, Andrea (GBR)2:02:17
4.MURUA, Ainhoa (ESP)2:02:22
5.SWAIL, Julie (USA)2:02:24
6.DUFFY, Flora (BER)2:02:28
7.PEON, Carol (FRA)2:02:41
8.LISK, Ricarda (GER)2:02:47
9.HASKINS, Sarah (USA)2:02:52
10.NAKANISHI, Machiko (JPN)2:03:12
Click here for the full results.
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Click here for updated 2006 World Cup Rankings
