In one of the strongest fields ever assembled for a Women’s World Cup race, Kathy Tremblay finished in 9th place beating out many of the world’s best triathletes.
Tremblay, from Montreal, finished the proposed Olympic course for 2008 in 2:06:12 beating Anja Dittmer (World Cup Ranking #8) and Debbie Tanner (World Cup Ranking #9) with relative ease. For the complete results please click on the links below.
Today’s race in Beijing featured 12 of the top 13 female athletes including Vanessa Fernandes and Emma Snowsill – it’s the first time these two superstars have raced head-to-head in a World Cup race this season.
Fernandes of Portugal won the race in a time of 2:01:34 in a preview of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games course. Fernandes bested current world champion Snowsill of Australia by 44 seconds, solidifying her place in history, tying the current record of 12 world cup victories in a row set by Australian Emma Carney in the early 1990’s. A further 47 seconds back was third place finisher Elizabeth May of Luxemburg. This is May’s first podium finish.
"I don’t think about the record,” said the modest Fernandes, who just celebrated her 21st birthday ten days ago. “I did not feel very good today but a win over Emma [Snowsill] on the Olympic course is very gratifying. I am happy for myself, my family and Portugal.”
With the win Fernandes has guaranteed herself the 2006 overall World Cup Title and her share of $US250, 000 bonus prize pool.
“I was not feeling good yesterday and I called my father and he tell me ‘You are good, you are a champion and you will feel better once you are racing’ and I listen to him,” commented Fernandes, who regularly receives advise from her father, who is a past Portuguese cycling champion.
Snowsill, who admitted she has not been training since the world championships in Lausanne looked to be hurting in the hot and hazy conditions.
“It is tougher then it looks,” stated the tiny Australian. “If this is the course they will use for the Olympics it will be a good test of a true triathlete.”
A full women’s field of 75 took to the water just on the outskirts of Beijing for a preview of the 2008 Games course and valuable Olympic Qualifying points.
Canadian, Lauren Groves, the only top-10 athlete not in the race, dropped to 4th on the World Cup rankings just 5 points ahead of Emma Snowsill. There are 2 races left on the calendar – one in Cancun and the other in New Plymouth and Groves plans to race in both of them in hopes of regaining the third spot.
Other Canadians results were, Carolyn Murray (38th), Ayesha Rollinson (52nd) and Christine Jeffrey (DNF).
Frederic Belaubre of France claimed victory today in the Men’s competition. Belaubre’s time of 1:52:48 was good enough to win the 2006 Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup comfortably to the cheers of 15,000 spectators.
“The course here is beautiful and will be very good for the Olympics in 2008, commented the European champion Belaubre. “I am so very happy to do so well on the Olympic course. Everything felt good today. Swim, bike and run.”
Fifteen seconds behind Belaubre was Spanish champion Javier Gomez, who recently won the Hamburg world cup only two weeks ago. Gomez’s second place moves him into the lead of the overall world cup rankings, a place no Spaniard has been before.
“I am very happy with my second place,” stated the 23-year-old university student. “It is very exciting to be winning the world cups.”
In third place was Belaubre’s team mate Stephane Poulat, who despite being one of the strongest swimmers and cyclists on the tour, has been on the World Cup podium only a few times before.
As the men started the 1,500 metre, non-wetsuit swim it was Olympics on the minds of many of the 88 starters. The temperature began to rise as a southerly breeze gave no refuge to the athletes on the sheltered technical and hilly course.
Paul Tichelaar was the only Canadian male entered in the race and he was unable to finish.
Source: Triathlon Canada
Triathlon Canada is the National Federation for the Sport of Triathlon and Duathlon in Canada.
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