Her previous world cup best was an eighth place finish in 2005 but none of that mattered as the elite women took to the start line in South Africa today. Carolyn Murray of Canada pulled off quite an upset, winning todays Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup, the first world cup title of her career. Aussie Felicity Abram took the silver while last years silver medalist Magali Di Marco of Switzerland made the podium for the second straight year, holding on for bronze.
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This is something Ive been dreaming of forever, said Murray at the finish line, who needs a top-8 finish at the world championships in Vancouver on June 8 for a guaranteed spot in Beijing.
American Olympic hopeful Sarah Groff emerged from the water first and was up 22 seconds over the rest of the field. Riding alone on the 40-kilometer bike course, Groff had to work hard to build a 35-second lead. A large chase pack was in hot pursuit and cut the lead to just 13 seconds by the midway point of the bike segment. In the fourth lap, Groff was swallowed up by the chase group that included all the major pre-race favorites including German Ricarda Lisk, South African Mari Rabie, Nicky Samuels of New Zealand, Abram and Di Marco, the 2000 Olympic bronze medalist.
After 28 kilometers, the second chase pack caught up with the lead group after strong cycling by Murray and Austrian Tania Haiboeck. With the exception of a mini breakaway by Samuels with seven kilometers to go, 36 women rode together for the last stages of the bike segment and into T2.
I had to work my butt off on the bike and it paid off. It finally paid off, said Murray. I really had a terrible swim and I didnt realize how far back I was until I got to the bikes and there werent any left. I knew if I didnt do anything to get up to the race was over. I had to go for it. On the run I thought, this is game on. Today is my day and Im going for it.
Lisk was first out of transition followed quickly by Elizabeth May of Luxembourg and Samuels. But surprisingly Murray and Haiboeck led after the first lap of the 10-kilometer run. Just shy of the halfway mark Murray started to break away and took a slim 4-second lead on compatriot Kathy Tremblay and Di Marco. With Abram charging hard in the late stages, Murray managed to hold on to claim the biggest win of her career and send a strong message that she is one of the contenders for selection to Canadas Olympic team. She now needs a top-8 finish at the world championships in Vancouver to earn an automatic berth. The last Canadian woman to win a world cup was right here in Richards Bay last year when Kirsten Sweetland broke through for her first world cup title.
With a strong finishing kick, Abram overtook Di Marco for the silver and her second world cup podium of 2008. A few weeks ago Abram was vocal in not being selected to Australias Olympic nomination team. Tremblay finished in fourth place, her second world cup top-5 result of 2008. Lisk rounded out the top five.
2008 Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Women Official Results
Gold - Murray, Carolyn (CAN) 2:03:32
Silver - Abram, Felicity (AUS) 2:03:35
Bronze - Di Marco, Magali (SUI) 2:03:41
4 - Tremblay, Kathy (CAN) 02:03:51
5 - Lisk, Ricarda (GER) 02:04:11
6 - Samuels, Nicky (NZL) 02:04:20
7 - Haiboeck, Tania (AUT) 02:04:24
8 - Lorblanchet, Marion (FRA) 02:04:28
9 - Davis, Emma (IRL) 02:04:29
10 - Czesnik, Maria (POL) 02:04:36
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Su mejor resultado en la copa del mundo haba sido una octava posicin en 2005, pero nada de eso importaba a la lite femenina que tomaron hoy la lnea de salida en Sudfrica. La canadiense Carolyn Murray, consigui su primer titulo de Copa del ganando hoy de forma firme y sin hacer mucho ruido en la Copa del Mundo de Triatln BG de Richards Bay, el primer ttulo de la copa del mundo de su carrera. La australiana Felicity Abram se hizo con la plata, mientras que la medallista de plata del ao pasado Magali Di Marco de Suiza se subi al podium por segundo ao consecutivo, consiguiendo el bronce.
La esperanza Olmpica Americana Sarah Groff sali primera del agua con 22 segundos sobre el resto de participantes. Corriendo en solitario los 40 kilmetros del recorrido de la bicicleta, Groff tuvo que trabajar duro para aumentar la ventaja a 35 segundos. Un gran grupo perseguidor mantuvo una intensa persecucin y redujo la ventaja a tan slo 13 segundos en el punto medio del segmento de la bicicleta. En la cuarta vuelta, Groff fue atrapada por el grupo perseguidor en el que estaban todas las favoritas a priori, como la alemana Ricarda Lisk, la sudafricana Mari Rabie, Nicky Samuels de Nueva Zelanda, Abram y Di Marco, la medallista de bronce Olmpica en el 2000.
Despus de 28 kilmetros, el segundo grupo perseguidor se uni al grupo de ventaja gracias a una gran solidez sobre la bicicleta de Murray y la austriaca Tania Haiboeck. A excepcin de una pequea ruptura de Samuels a siete kilmetros, 36 mujeres rodaron juntas las ltimas partes del segmento y en la T2.
Lisk fue primera a la salida de la transicin seguida de cerca por Elizabeth May de Luxemburgo y Samuels. Pero sorprendentemente Murray y Haiboeck encabezaban la carreraza despus de la primera vuelta de los 10 kilmetros de carrera a pie. Sobre la lnea que marcaba la mitad de la carrera, Murray comenz a separarse y consigui una ligera de ventaja de 4 segundos sobre su compatriota Kathy Tremblay y Di Marco. Con Abram corriendo con fuerza en la ltima parte, Murray logr mantener la ventaja para alcanzar la victoria ms grande de su carrera y mandar un firme mensaje de que ella es candidata para la seleccin del equipo Olmpico canadiense. Ella ahora necesita quedar entre las 8 primeras en los campeonatos del mundo de Vancouver para ganar una plaza automtica. La ltima mujer canadiense en ganar una copa del mundo lo hizo justo aqu en Richards Bay cuando Kirsten Sweetland consigui su primera victoria en la copa del mundo.
Con un fuerte sprint final, Abram super a Di Marco para conseguir la plata y su segundo podium en la copa del mundo 2008. Unas semanas atrs protestaba por no haber sido incluida en el equipo Olmpico. Tremblay finaliz en cuarta posicin, su segundo resultado en el Top 5 en la copa del mundo del 2008. Lisk lleg en quinta posicin.
Copa del Mundo de Triatln BG Richards Bay 2008
1.5km natacin, 40km bicicleta, 10km carrera a pie
Elite Femenina Resultados Oficiales
Oro - Murray, Carolyn (CAN) 2:03:32
Plata - Abram, Felicity (AUS) 2:03:35
Bronce - Di marco, Magali (SUI) 2:03:41
4 - Tremblay, Kathy (CAN) 02:03:51
5 - Lisk, Ricarda (GER) 02:04:11
6 - Samuels, Nicky (NZL) 02:04:20
7 - Haiboeck, Tania (AUT) 02:04:24
8 - Lorblanchet, Marion (FRA) 02:04:28
9 - Davis, Emma (IRL) 02:04:29
10 - Czesnik, Maria (POL) 02:04:36
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