Torbjorn Sindballe - Photo Credit: Delly Carr/triathlon.org
As balloons rose over Lake Burley Griffin the 2006 LD
Triathlon World Championships began with over 630 athletes
powering into, what for some, would be a long day in the
sun. Four kilometers later on a two lap course that took
them past Parliament House to the Kings Ave Bridge, the
leaders emerged with Kieran Doe (NZL) leading fellow New
Zealanders Stephan Sheldrake and Nathan Richmond around
the 50 minute mark. First Australian out was Nick Hornman. The ladies race leader, Linda Gallo (USA) took 55
minutes and emerged in a pack of men about 3 minutes ahead
of Johanna Daumas (FRA) and Manuela Ianesi (ITA).
Australians Amelia Cox and Belinda Halloran were 6th and
7th on the transition to the 120km bike stage. Aussie
Lachlan Lewis was last out of the water waving to the
cheers of the crowd.
The bike course was the stage for several changes in
position within all the categories as the four lap course
took in Parliament Hill, the lake and wound its way
towards Coppins Crossing. The climb back out of Coppins
had people racing up on the first lap, then slowing, then
even slower. Then by lap four, the wind came up making it
harder for everyone, particularly the age groupers, some
of whom were on their first lap. Kieran Doe, who had led
Torbjorn Sindballe (DEN) by over one minute, found
Sindballe was only two seconds behind him as he finished
the first lap. Sheldrake and Richmond were involved in
their own duel with a large pack, including Craig
Alexander (AUS) over three minutes behind the leaders.
Over with the women, Gallo still had over 2 minutes on
Daumas, with Melissa Ashton (AUS), Bella Comerford (GBR)
and Amelia Cox (AUS) rounding out the top five. Lap two
found the men still locked in their positions while Daumas
took over the lead from Gallo moving out to a two minute
lead. Sara Gross (GBR) moved in to the top five and Edith
Niederfriniger (ITA) entered the top ten.
Major movement in lap three saw Sindballe move into the
lead by over 50 seconds to Doe, with then over eight
minutes to the rest of the field. The women were still
chasing Daumas who now had Melissa Ashton just less than
two minutes behind and Comerford, over three minutes off
the pace. Coming into the transition to the run stage
Sinballe had almost six minutes over Doe and eleven to
Richmond. Alexander moved into 6th just over 12 minutes
behind the leader. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) transitioned
in 11th place looking to make up over 16 minutes to reach
the leader. Daumas extended her lead to three and a half
minutes over Ashton, Comerford, Martina Dogana (ITA) and
Niederfriniger who was now 5th over 7 minutes back.
With just 30k to go on the welcome flat three lap run of
the southern edge of the lake it meant that there was
still time left for major movements in the field to crown
the 2006 World Champion. As the runners passed and
re-passed the main race area, the spectators could easily
follow the changes. Sindballe lost 2 minutes to Alexander
on the first lap, and a further 4 to him on the second
lap. It was shaping up to be a close finish with the
possibility of an Australian World Champion. Melissa
Ashton dropped out at the 10k mark with Comerford taking
over second. As the laps wore on in the heat moving to
34C, Daumas surrendered her lead to Comerford, and then
second place to Niedergriniger. Marino Vanhoenacker
moved through the field each lap, steadily climbing the
leader board as Sindballe held on to the lead.
The roar of the crowd alerted those at the finish that the
new world champion was about to cross the line as
Sindballe entered the finish chute in a time of 5:59:13.
As his finisher’s medal was placed over his head, a
Danish flag flew from the crowd to crown his achievement.
Craig Alexander (6:00:35) held onto his second place,
despite cramping in the last kilometers which caused him
to stop every kilometer to stretch. Third was Marino
Vanhoenacker from Belgium (6:02:22) a further three
minutes behind the winner. Julien Loy, 6:02:46, (FRA) and
Nathan Richmond, 6:04:54, (NZL) rounded out the top five.
Bella Comerford - Photo Credit: Delly Carr/triathlon.org
Bella Comerford (GBR) was crowned the LD Triathlon World
Champion as she finished in a time of 6:55:32 ahead of
Edith Niederfriniger, 6:57:17, (ITA) and the early leader
Johanna Daumas, 7:00:50, (FRA). The effort of the race
clearly showed in Bella’s face as she grasped the finish
tape in jubilation. Erika Csomor, 7:05:13 (HUN), the
sole Hungarian entrant, was fourth with Martina Dogana
(ITA) coming in fifth in a time of 7:05:37.
2006 ITU Canberra Long Distance Triathlon World Championships – Elite Women
1. COMERFORD, Bella (GBR) 6:55:32
2. NIEDERFRINGER, Edith (ITA) 6:57:17
3. DAUMAS, Johanna (FRA) 7:00:50
4. CSOMOR, Erika (HUN) 7:05:13
5. DOGNANA, Martina (ITA) 7:05:37
6. GROSS, Sara (USA) 7:06:47
7. JESBERGER, Heidi (GER) 7:08:33
8. AZANZA, Cristina (ESP) 7:14:56
9. BAYLEY, Abigail (GBR) 7:21:00
10. COX, Amelia (AUS) 7:22:56
2006 ITU Canberra Long Distance Triathlon World Championships – Elite Men
1. SINDBALLE, Torbjorn (DEN) 5:59:13
2. ALEXANDER, Craig (AUS) 6:00:35
3. VANHOENACKER, Marino (BEL) 6:02:00
4. LOY, Julien (FRA) 6:02:46
5. RICHMOND, Nathan (NZL) 6:04:54
6. VERNAY, Patrick (ITU) 6:07:26
7. FAURE, Herve (FRA) 6:07:26
8. COLTING, Jonas (SWE) 6:07:56
9. COLUCCI, Reinaldo (BRA) 6:10:49
10. KOEFOED, Jens (DEN) 6:10:57
Torbjorn Sindballe quotes:
“I was 1 minute behind after the swim in 11th place. I
overdid the bike, I died on the last 25 kilometers like
every one else. I held onto the run, pushing doubting if
I was going to make it. At 2 kilometers to go I heard he
(Craig Alexander) was one minute 40 down so I kept
pushing. I liked the course, very tough and very dry”.
Craig Alexander quotes:
“Could have run more conservatively for 2nd, but went for
the win. He (Sindballe) was better on the day. Owed it
to myself to go for win on home ground. I came home from
the US on Tuesday to do this race. I’m out on my feet but
the support (from the crowd) means a lot. I was cramping
towards the end and had to stop every kilometer to
stretch”.
Marino Vanhoenacker quotes:
“Terrible day. Sick since Ironman Hawaii. Worse with
snow on Wednesday. Not sure if healthy. Sat in the swim
and bike part, tried to accelerate on loop 2 but went
back. On run wanted top 10, 7th on second loop. Give it
a go, still a chance”.
Bella Comerford quotes:
“Very warm but clouds helped. Very strong coming into
race. Very tough hills, tired and tough. Concentrated,
had to give it all last kilometer as some one shouted
Italy behind me”.
Sam Hume (Australia Male30-34) first age grouper to finish
and winner of his age group quotes:
“Very tough, fairly hard out of the water. Last 5
kilometers was cramping. Surprised and very happy (to
finish this high in order). Rested since Ironman Hawaii,
bit of a gamble but OK. My plans are for a quick shower
and then food”.
Jim O’Brien (Ireland) one of a 4 member team had friends
and family decked out in Jim O’Brien supporter shirts.
This was his first long distance event, although he has
done Ironman and other distances. He enjoyed himself and
loved the course.
Full results are available at: Triathlon.org.
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