Posted: March 25, 2007

Triathlon: Aussie Sweep Down Under

MOOLOOLABA – It was an Aussie sweep of the gold medals at the 2007 Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup today as both 2006 Commonwealth Games champions Emma Snowsill and Brad Kahlefeldt were atop the podium. The sleepy surf-town of Mooloolaba on the Australian coast played host to 150 of the world’s top triathletes as they attempt to swim, bike and run their way into the Olympic Games in the first world cup of the 2007 season. In the women’s event, it was 3-time world champion Snowsill who was able to best her fellow Aussie and Under 23 world champion Erin Densham by 31 seconds, with a time of 1 hour 59 minutes and 20 seconds. A further 10 seconds back in third position was Portuguese sensation Vanessa Fernandes. Amongst one of the most competitive women’s fields ever assembled for a world cup, Snowsill was able to claim her sixth world cup win over her closest rivals. “It’s one of the races I’ve never won before, it’s always eluded me and that’s always an incentive,” commented the petite Snowsill. “The home crowd is always fantastic, to not be able to hear yourself breathing and hurting and to hear everybody else is a fantastic feeling, and I think that really makes all the difference” After the opening 1,500 metre ocean swim, a group of 22 athletes formed early on the bike, including all the top players such as local favourites Annabel Luxford, Felicity Abram and Emma Moffatt, American Laura Bennett, the second and third ranked Joelle Franzmann and Anja Dittmer of Germany, Junior world champion Kirsten Sweetland of Canada, the Kiwi duo of Debbie Tanner and Andrea Hewitt, as well as the eventual podium finishers. The large group was able to work together over the hilly 40 kilometre bike to build almost a minute gap on the rest of the field which included a number of strong runners such as Samantha Warriner of New Zealand, Lauren Groves of Canada and Rina Hill of Australia. Out onto the tough and hot run course it was Snowsill, Fernandes and Tanner immediately taking the lead with Densham trailing. The first to drop off the heated pace was Tanner and at the 5 kilometre point of the run Snowsill was able to break away and cruise to her sixth world cup win with a 34:39 run split. “I knew Vanessa was there for a while,” said Snowsill. “I never at any stage knew she wasn’t there. It was all about going as hard as possible.” The fading Fernandes was eventually overtaken in the final kilometre by a late-charging Densham. “She’s [Fernandes] definitely up there on a pedestal with Emma … and I don’t know how to explain beating her actually, she’s such a great athlete,” said a shocked Densham. “I just went as fast as I could in the finish. I kept looking down. I could see her shadows but then the finish line just came.” Fernandes was stopped short of her, would be, record-breaking 13th consecutive world cup win with her bronze medal. “I never thought of it [the record]. I just wanted to win,” stated Fernandes. “I tried to go with Emma but she was very strong today on the run, and I think I’m not so good on this kind of course, with the sun on the run. I think it was because of that I lost a bit of time to Densham. I think we have another very good girl with Erin Densham. I think it’s very good for the sport.” In the men’s event, Kahlefeldt could not contain his excitement after nipping the number-one ranked Javier Gomez of Spain in a dramatic sprint finish. Kahlefeldt’s time of 1 hour 49 minutes and 23 seconds elated the large crowds gathered to cheer on their local athletes. Gomez, who led most of the run, was a mere 3 seconds back with Kris Gemmell of New Zealand claiming the final podium spot a further 10 seconds down. “To be able to win a world cup in your home country is fantastic. I think it’s one of the best ever wins for me,” said the 5-time world cup winner Kahlefeldt. “It doesn’t get much harder then the Mooloolaba course. It was important to show the Aussie [Olympic] selectors that I can perform on a hard course and I can beat the best in the world.” A large group of men were able to maneuver through the rough surf of the 1,500 metre swim to exit in just over 18 minutes. The strong swim-surf Aussies Craig Walton, Courtney Atkinson and Simon Thompson led the charge with American Andy Potts, Gomez and the Kiwi duo of Gemmell and Bevan Docherty in the mix. Kahlefeldt exited the water 20 seconds back of the leaders and spent most of the 40 kilometre bike ride, which contained a total of16 hills, in the chase group. It was not until the final stages of the bike that his group was able to close the gap, with a finishing bike split of just under 58 minutes, and exit the second transition with the leaders. Quickly to the front of the run went Kahlefeldt, Gomez, Gemmell, Atkinson and Docherty. Gomez was the one to make the first move at the half-way point of the 10 kilometre run, pulling away from the group. It was Kahlefeldt, however, who was able to reel in the young Spaniard over the last of four laps, leaving it to a final sprint. “I thought that I had it at the halfway point,” said Gomez, who celebrated his 24th birthday today. “But I didn’t feel good on the last lap of the run. I had a pain in my back and I couldn’t run as fast as I wanted to.” With only 50 metres to go Kahlefeldt was finally able to pull away to the cheers of thousands of fellow Aussies. Kahlefeldt’s run spilt of 32:02 was the fastest on the day. “The Aussie crowd was behind me the whole way, banging the barriers, and it made for a great sprint finish, said Kahlefeldt. “Javier’s run was very good today. He is such a strong athlete.” Gemmell was able to pull away from team mate Docherty to take the bronze medal. “Honestly, I didn’t expect this at all,” commented Gemmell, who doubles as the ITU athletes representative. “I didn’t even taper for this race. Bodes well for the rest of my season.” An estimated 25,000 spectators enjoyed the 32 degree temperatures to watch a total of 153 of the world’s top triathletes competing for valuable Olympic qualifying points and their share of the US$100,000 prize purse. The 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup series will next visit the fishing island of Ishigaki, Japan in three weeks time on April 15th with more Olympic qualifying points and prize money on the line.