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Veteran surges to 16th World Cup Podium in New Zealand
Blatchford returns to form in women’s race following injury set backs
Victory for Chrissie Wellington at Ironman Australia
After Tim Don’s bronze medal at the opening BG Triathlon World Cup in Mooloolaba, Australia last week, Andrew Johns, 34, added his name to the rostrum with an impressive third place finish in New Plymouth, New Zealand.
During the 40km cycle leg of the race, a British contingent of Johns, Stuart Hayes and Alistair Brownlee took the initiative and instigated a thirteen man breakaway and they arrived in second transition with a minute advantage ahead of the 10km run. Johns had to relinquish his lead to first Javier Gomez from Spain and then Brad Kahlefeldt from Australia, but managed to hold off a late surge from home favourite Kris Gemmell to take the bronze, his first world cup podium since October 2003.
Johns said on his third place finish: “I tried to go with Javier [Gomez] when he caught me but that guy has got some serious pace, and having worked so hard on the bike I was quite fatigued; but I thought ‘well it’s been a long while since I’ve been on the podium’ so I dug deep and stuck in there for third. This result means that I can really just concentrate on the Olympic qualifying race in Madrid now; and that’s a good tough course which really suits me, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Hayes went on to finish a respectable ninth and Olly Freeman ran through from the chasing pack to take thirteenth following a promising sixth position in last week’s world cup. Richard Stannard, who had led out of the 1500m sea swim took 32nd whilst Alistair Brownlee slipped back on the run having spent much of his energy on the bike to finish in 49th.
New Plymouth BG Triathlon World Cup Men’s Result
1. Javier Gomez, Spain
2. Brad Kahlefeldt, Australia
3. Andrew Johns, Great Britain
4. Kris Gemmell, New Zealand
5. Peter Croes, Belgium
9. Stuart Hayes, Great Britain
14. Olly Freeman, Great Britain
32. Richard Stannard, Great Britain
49. Alistair Brownlee, Great Britain
In the women’s race it was an impressive return to form for Liz Blatchford as she enjoyed a fifth place finish in her second race back having been clipped by a car whilst out training on Australia’s Gold Coast in December. The race was especially pleasing for Blatchford who also missed most of 2007 through injury, including suffering a broken pelvis having been hit by a car near Loughborough in the East Midlands last summer.
Blatchford said: “I’m really happy with my race; it feels like I’m getting back to creating my very best so I’m very pleased to be fifth and close to the podium. Last week’s race in Mooloolaba [Blatchford was 17th] was disappointing for me, but it helped to blow the cobwebs away and got me back up to speed with competitive world cup racing and that showed out on the course today.”
Andrea Whitcombe came through strongly during the second half of the run to finish just behind Blatchford in sixth. Her performance marks her second finish in the top ten in consecutive weeks having finished fifth in last week’s world cup in Mooloolaba. Welsh hope Helen Tucker continued her good start to the year with her second 13th place in two weeks, having finished in the identical position last week in Australia. Kerry Lang from Scotland matched her Mooloolaba world cup performance finishing in 18th having stuck in the lead pack throughout the race.
New Plymouth BG Triathlon World Cup Women’s Result
1. Emma Moffatt, Australia
2. Lisa Norden, Sweden
3. Felicity Abram, Australia
4. Daniela Ryf, Switzerland
5. Liz Blatchford, Great Britain
6. Andrea Whitcombe, Great Britain
13. Helen Tucker, Great Britain
18. Kerry Lang, Great Britain
DNF. Jodie Swallow, Great Britain
There was further British success in the southern hemisphere as Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington took apart a competitive women’s field at Ironman Australia. Her comfortable winning margin of five minutes over America’s Kate Major marks her third Ironman victory from three starts. Wellington finished ninth overall including the male finishers.
Ironman Australia Women’s Result:
1. Chrissie Wellington, Great Britain (9hrs 3mins 55secs)
2. Kate Major, USA
3. Melissa Cockshutt, Australia
Photo: Simon Grimmett / triathlon.org
About British Triathlon
British Triathlon is the National Governing Body for triathlon, the UK’s fastest growing sport. At international level Great Britain boasts a strong squad of world ranked elite triathletes who regularly achieve international success and has some outstanding young talent emerging from its development programmes. Since becoming an Olympic sport in 2000, British Triathlon has seen annual increases in membership numbers of 10%. There are over 650 triathlon events conducted in Great Britain each year, including the Corus Elite Series which attracts athletes from all over the globe, and the renowned Mazda London Triathlon, the world’s largest triathlon.
For more information visit BritishTriathlon.org.
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