Posted: January 25, 2004

Triathlon: Sigrid Lang and Patrik Kuril Win Winter Triathlon World Cup

Wildhaus, Switzerland, for immediate release: A strong field of most of the “who’s who!” of Winter Triathlon gathered today in Wildhaus, Switzerland first event in the 2004 ITU Winter Triathlon World Cup, which was also the 2004 European Championships.

The event consisted of a 4-lap 6.4km run followed by a 4-lap 11.2km mountain bike and finished with a 4-lap, 10km cross-country skate-ski.

In the women’s event, the defending Wildhaus Winter Triathlon Champion and 2003 World Ranked #1, Marianne Vlasfeld of the Netherlands was the odds-on favourite going into the event. However, Germany’s Sigrid Lang had a different game plan, as she stormed through the competition, posting the fastest time on each leg. Vlasfeld, who normally makes up for lost time on the bike section, had to settle for the 2nd fastest bike split – 5 seconds slower than Lang. By the end, Lang’s lead had increased to an incredible 1:53 over Vlasfeld who was second. Jutta Schubert of Germany was third, a further 2:49 behind Vlasfeld.

Top 5 in the elite women were:

1. Sigrid Lang GER (1.24.43)
2. Marianne Vlasfeld NED, (1.26.50)
3. Jutta Schubert GER, (1.29.39)
4. Karin Mobes, SUI (1.30.46)
5. Gabi Pauli, GER (1.33.43

In the men’s event, Slovakia’s Patrik Kuril had the race of his live coming from nowhere to grab his first international title. He posted posted the fastest run time at 19.46, then increased his lead through the bike and ski segments. In the end he managed a 47 second lead over France’s Nicolas Lebrun who was the World Ranked #2 in 2003.

Lebrun exited the first transition just a few seconds back of Kuril, but allowed the young Slovak to increase his lead to 40 seconds by the time he swept through the second transition on the cross-country ski leg. Kuril also posted the fastest ski split of the day.

Germany’s Othmar Brugger, who is always a threat for a podium position was 3rd, a mere 20 seconds behind Lebrun.

Top 5 in the elite men were:

1. Patrik Kuril SVK (1.16.23)
2. Nicolas Lebrun FRA (1.17.17)
3. Othmar Brugger SUI (1.17.37)
4. Alf Roger Holme, NOR (1.18.36)
5. Thomas Schrenk, GER (1.19.16

Action from Wildhaus continues tomorrow with the Age Group European Championships and the Team Championships.

Complete results and photos available from the ITU.