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Having topped the medal table at the ITU Duathlon World Championships in
Gyor, Hungary in April; Britain's top multisport competitors have been
looking to add to their medal haul at the European Duathlon Championships in
Edinburgh today. In wet and windy conditions competition was tough, but the
Brits made the most of the home support to top the medal table once again.
Junior Men
Competition started well when Mark Threlfall broke away on the bike in the
Junior men's race giving himself a 15 second lead coming onto the final
2.5km run. He was passed by Portuguese sensation, Joao Silva, but held on to
take a superb second place.
1. Joao Silva, POR
2. Mark Threlfall, GBR
3. Jose Estrangeiro, POR
Junior Women
Further success came in the Junior women's race when Sophie Coleman and
Kirsty McWilliam took a magnificent one-two finish in front of the home
crowds. McWilliam, from Glasgow, gained a minute lead on the opening 5km
run, but crashed at the first turn on the bike course. Having recomposed
herself and fixed her bike she restarted in fifth and a minute behind the
leaders. Coleman took full advantage and broke away early on the bike to
take a commanding lead into the final transition. McWilliam rode strongly
and climbed back up to second to finish as runner-up. Mary Ferrier from
Gateshead finished fifth place to ensure Great Britain took team gold.
1. Sophie Coleman, GBR
2. Kirsty McWilliam, GBR
3. Alexa Guissani, ITA
Elite Women
Catriona Morrison dominated the women's event as she rode away from the
opposition over the 40km hilly bike course. Putting four minutes into her
rivals, Morrison, the 2006 World Champion, could afford to cruise the final
run to cross the line ahead of Radka Vodickova of the Czech Republic who
outsprinted Alexandra Louison of France.
Morrison said: "It's a fantastic feeling to win in front of my supporters here today in
Edinburgh. The City has hosted a great Championships and it was a special
feeling to cross the line so far in front. The bike course was perfect for
me: tough, hilly and technical, so I made the most of it to gave myself the
winning lead."
1. Catriona Morrison, GBR
2. Radka Vodickova, CZE
3. Alexandra Louison, FRA
Elite Men
Benny Vansteelant impressively won the men's race having dominated the 40km
bike section. The Belgian cycled three minutes into a stacked men's field
over the route which took competitors over Arthur's Seat and past the
Scottish Parliament buildings. Britain's Tom Lowe exited for the final run
in the chasing pack and stormed through to take bronze having run down the
two Belgian athletes ahead of him, including Benny's brother, Joerie.
1. Benny Vansteelant, BEL
2. Rob Woestenborghs, BEL
3. Tom Lowe, GBR
Lowe commented: "What a great feeling to win my first major Championship medal. I'm a big
guy so the hilly course didn't really suit me, but I just felt so good on my
second run that I always knew a medal was on the cards. If the run had been
any longer I might even have got second."
Final Medal Table:
1. Great Britain: 2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze.
2. Belgium: 1 gold, 1 silver.
3. Portugal: 1 gold, 1 bronze.
4. Czech Republic: 1 silver.
5. France: 1 bronze.
=. Italy: 1 bronze.
For further information on European Duathlon Championships, please see BritishTriathlon.org.
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