As the sun peaked over the mountains, the worlds top 46 women aged 18 to 23 took their starting positions for the 2006 ITU Under23 Triathlon World Championships. After the 1,500 metre swim in Lake Geneva, challenging 40 kilometre bike and 10 kilometre run it was Australias Erin Densham capturing the gold medal in a time of 2:08:19. She was able to better her team mate Emma Moffatt by only 2 seconds in a sprint finish in front of a crowded grandstand. Nicky Samuels from New Zealand captured the final podium spot a further 12 seconds back in a time of 2:08:33.
U23 footage is now available on Tricast.
Watch highlights from the 2006 Lausanne ITU World Championships so far.
Hasnt sunk in yet and probably wont until Im on the podium, stated Densham
Sarah McLarty from the United States moved quickly to the front of the swim bringing Moffatt with her for the first of two-laps. McLarty took control, however, during the second lap and managed to put a 40 second gap between herself and the rest of the field.
Had a pretty good swim and managed to stay behind McLarty and shes good so that was brilliant, said Moffatt. Then the bike was pretty hard and I struggled up the hills. So I decided to pace myself and then gave it all I could on the run.
All three podium winners were out of the water directly behind McLarty and managed to work well together for the 40 kilometre bike eventually dropping the ex-collegiate swimmer. Going into the second transition it was Densham, Moffatt, Samuels, Vanessa Raw and Rosie Clarke from Great Britain, Lisa Norden from Sweden, Jasmine Oeinck from the USA and Keiko Tanaka from Japan coming in a minute ahead of the chase group.
Out onto the run course, Denshaw, Moffatt, Samuels and Raw pulled away during the first lap of four and never looked back. Over the last lap Raw dropped off and then Samuels, leaving the two Aussies to battle for the title.
I got out on to the run and I new if I stayed with the Australian girls it could work out and I felt good in the middle of the run and thought it could be my day. But then the last kilometre I just fell away and let first and second go, said Samuels.
In the end, it was Densham who managed to out-sprint Moffatt to the line.
I thought that I managed to hold in there on the run and then at the sprint I just went for it, commented Densham. I wanted it bad.
2006 ITU Triathlon World Championships Under23 Women
DENSHAM, Erin (AUS) 2:08:19
MOFFATT, Emma (AUS) 2:08:21
SAMUELS, Nicky (NZL) 2:08:33
RAW, Vanessa (GBR) 2:09:21
NORDEN, Lisa (SWE) 2:09:48
CLARKE, Rosie (GBR) 2:10:19
OEINCK, Jasmine (USA) 2:10:58
HUTTHALER, Lisa (AUT) 2:11:54
TANAKA, Keiko (JPN) 2:12:36
MUELLER, Kathrin (GER) 2:13:06
Click here for official results.
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Click here for official photo gallery from Lausanne.
Watch highlights from the 2006 Lausanne ITU World Championships so far.
Lausana (Suiza).- Mientras amaneca sobre las montaas, las 46 mejores mujeres del mundo entre 18 y 23 aos se situaban en sus puestos para el Campeonato del Mundo ITU Sub-23 de Triatln. Tras 1.500 metros de natacin en el Lago Ginebra, 40 kilmetros de ciclismo y 10 kilmetros de carrera a pie, fue la australiana Erin Densham quien conquist la medalla de oro con un tiempo de 2.08:19. Fue capaz de batir a su compatriota Emma Moffatt por slo dos segundos en un ajustado sprint frente a la abarrotada tribuna principal. La neozelandesa Nicky Samuels logr el tercer puesto en el podio con un tiempo de 2.08:33, 12 segundos ms que Moffatt.
Todava no me lo creo y probablemente no me lo crea hasta que no est en el podio, indic Densham.
Sarah McLarty (EE.UU.) se situ rpidamente en cabeza de carrera en la natacin y arrastr a Moffatt a sus pies en la primera de las dos vueltas. McLarty llev el control, sin embargo, en la segunda vuelta y logr sacar 40 segundos de ventaja sobre la segunda clasificada.
Nad bien y logr estar tras McLarty. Ella es buena, as que estuve brillante, dijo Moffatt. Luego el ciclismo fue muy duro y luch en los repechos. As que decid ir a por todas y luego di todo lo que pude en la carrera a pie.
Las tres medallistas salieron del agua justo detrs de McLarty y dieron buenos relevos en los 40 kilmetros de ciclismo para descolgar a la ex nadadora profesional. Por la segunda transicin pasaron en cabeza Densham, Moffatt, Samuels, las britnicas Vanessa Raw y Rosie Clarke, la sueca Lisa Norden, la estadounidense Jasmine Oeinck y la japonesa Keiko Tanaka con un minuto de ventaja sobre el grupo perseguidor.
Ya en la carrera a pie, Denshaw, Moffatt, Samuels y Raw se escaparon en la primera vuelta y dejaron a sus compaeras de fuga. En la ltima vuelta cedi Raw y luego Samuels, as que las dos australianas se jugaron el ttulo.
Llegu a la carrera a pie y saba que si segua con las australianas sera complicado. Me encontraba bien a mitad de carrera y pens que poda ser mi da. Pero en el ltimo kilmetro me vine abajo y dej escapar las dos primeras posiciones, seal Samuels.
Al final, Densham fue ms rpida que Moffatt en el sprint.
Pens que tena muchas posibilidades en la carrera a pie y en el sprint fui a por todas, coment Densham. Tena muchas ganas.