Germany’s Selina Klamt was crowned the 2023 Women’s U23 World Champion on Sunday afternoon after a thrilling final lap showdown against Maria Tome of Portugal.
The two had been locked together for much of the 10km run with Angelica Prestia (ITA) and Cathia Schar (SUI) before pulling clear late on. Schar was dropped after a huge earlier effort on the bike took its toll, and then Prestia followed. Tome was camped on Klamt’s shoulder for the last 2.5km but could never find the reserved to pass, Klamt taking the tape and a brilliant win.
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The top-ranked athletes again stuck to the left end of the pontoon for the start of the two-lap, counter-clockwise, wetsuit swim. After the first 750m lap there was little to separate the first 15 athletes climbing out and diving back in off the platform, Klamt, Brea Roderick (NZL) and Jessica Fullagar (GBR) among the quickest, Schar 19 seconds back.
The field was strung out further on lap two, and five athletes came out together - Klamt, Fullagar, Laura Holanszky, Sophia Howell, Tilly Anema.
They were chased out by Tara Sosinski and Hannah Knighton a few seconds back, Canada’s Laroque crashing as she came out of T1 and her race was over before it could begin.
Fullagar was straight onto the gas, putting 20 seconds into the chasers almost immediately just as she did halfway through last years championships in Abu Dhabi. Tanja Neubert and Knighton were driving that group, Zuzana Michalikova and Tomé heading up the second pack trying to bridge.
Fullagar’s tactics clear, the mission from those behind was to not allow her to put an unassailable lead into them. A bad crash on lap two rattled the second chase pack and the likes of Chisato Nakajima of Japan and Holanszky suddenly dropped to over two minutes back.
Schar was on the front of the chasers by lap three and helping to halt the Fullagar stretch, gradually hauling the pack of 25 back into contention.
By lap four, Fullagar was caught and now 26 athletes were riding together, Australia’s Charlotte Derbyshire well placed but knowing she faced a penalty for littering once out on the run.
On lap one it was Schar asking the questions, Klamt and Tome first to answer, but Fullagar and Prestia just five seconds back.
The Swiss charge didn’t hold, however, and Klamt took up duties out front with a burst of pace, only Tome going with her, Schar suddenly dropped and then passed by Prestia.
That was how it would stay, as Tome hung on Klamt’s shoulder for the final lap but the pace was such that there wasn’t enough left to take the German down the blue carpet, Klamt pulling further away to the take the tape with glee, Tome followed over by Prestia, Schar and Tanja Neubert in fourth and fifth respectively.
