The weekend has proved to be fruitful for two times Olympic medallist Nicola Spirig. After claiming the bronze medal this Friday in the World Triathlon Mixed Relay Olympic qualification event in Lisbon, and securing that the Swiss team will be at the Tokyo Olympics, 48 hours later the Swiss claimed the victory in the World Cup, storming an star-stacked field with another showcase of horse power on the bike.
Sixty athletes lined up for the start
of the race on the beach at the Targus river, in Lisbon, for a swim that was
rough and challenging. With the water slightly above 18 degrees -wetsuit swim
again- American Summer Rappaport was the one that navigated better the choppy
waters, with Irish Chloe Pollard and Australian Natalie Van Coevorden right at
her feet.
A group of nine athletes – including
Rappapot, Pollard, Van Coevorden, Kirsten Kasper (USA), Melanie Santos (POR),
Vicky Holland (GBR) and Lea Coninx (FRA) -
managed to leave the first transition together, with a lead of almost 50
seconds over the chasers.
Behind them, it was just a matter of
a couple of kilometres that Spirig launched the Nicola train. The swiss put her
head down, and the likes of Alice Betto (ITA), Rachel Klamer (NED) or Julia
Hauser (AUT) or Amelie Kratz(CAN) just followed her.
By the third of the eight laps on the
technical and incredibly fast bike circuit in Lisbon, the leading nine were
joined by the Nicola train, and with the Swiss still up in front, the rest of
the 19 athletes were trying to save some legs for the run.
And it was when the athletes went off
their bikes and off for the final 10km run when Irish Carolyn Hayes decided to
go full gas from the beginning, leaving even Spirig, Holland, Rappaport and
Kasper behind.
Hayes stayed leading solo, while
behind her only Nicola was capable of keeping her on sight. The rest of the
athletes start spreading up with Kasper maintaining the third place, and a
group of five -Jolanda Annen (SUI), Holland, Kretz, Alberte Kjaer Pedersen
(DEN) and Klamer- spreading behind.
With a bit over one kilometer to go,
the Swiss proved that she had still an extra gear, and passed Hayes to cross
the finish line by herself, adding another gold medal to her incredible tally.
“I am very happy, it’s great to be back on the podium and on the top of the
podium, I really appreciate it. I don’t know how many World Cups I will still
do so it’s amazing to win again here”, said the Swiss after crossing the finish
line, focused on preparing her fifth Olympic Games.
Behind her, Hayes signed the second
World Cup podium of her career and secured some valuable points that will put
her in a more comfortable position on the road to Tokyo 2020, while Kasper
claimed the third spot of the podium. “I am a bit annoyed that I lost it on the
last lap but there are worst people you can come second to (than Nicola Spirig,
two-times Olympic medallist). I am thrilled, really happy. I kept thinking,
just keep running, don’t look back. I wanted to come off with the best and really
test myself. It gives me confidence moving forward. Hopefully it’s enough to
give me a ticket to Tokyo,” said the Irish.
“It means a lot for me. To come back
after Yokohama and have a better run and honestly show what I know I am capable
of is just what I came here for”, said Kasper, back on podium positions after
almost two years with multiple injuries.
Annen and Holland closed the top five
in Lisbon, followed by Kretz, Pedersen, Klamer, Rappaport and Coninx.
Results: Elite Women
1. Nicola
Spirig SUISUI Flag 1:59:05
2. Carolyn
Hayes IRLIRL Flag 1:59:17
3. Kirsten
Kasper USAUSA Flag 1:59:39
4. Jolanda
Annen SUISUI Flag 1:59:55
5. Vicky
Holland GBRGBR Flag 1:59:56
ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON
World Triathlon is the international
governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of triathlon and all
related multisport disciplines around the world, including duathlon, aquathlon,
cross triathlon and winter triathlon. Triathlon made its Olympic debut in
Sydney 2000, with a third medal event, the Mixed Team Relay, added to the
programme at Tokyo 2020, while paratriathlon was first added to the Paralympic
programme at Rio 2016. World Triathlon is proudly committed to the development
of the sport worldwide, with inclusion, equality, sustainability and
transparency at our core as we seek to help triathletes at all levels of the
sport to be extraordinary.
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