After
Marlene Gomez-Göggel (GER) won the first women’s semi-final at the Tiszaujvaros
World Cup and Anabel Knoll (GER) claimed the second, the prospect of a German battle
for the podium seemed a likely outcome heading into today’s final. In scorching
conditions it was Annika Koch (GER) that managed to overpower a clutch of
rivals, both domestic and foreign, to claim the win.
Gomez-Göggel
and Knoll lined up on the left side of the pontoon, as did Vicky Holland (GBR)
and Sian Rainsley (GBR). Having led the swim in the first women’s semi-final,
Zsanett Kuttor-Bragmayer (HUN) plumped for the right. It was Sophia Howell
(CAN) that sped into the early lead from the middle but Olivia Mathias (GBR)
soon came through and jostled for the lead with Kuttor-Bragmayer until the swim
exit. Meanwhile, Anahi Alvarez Corral (MEX) lost touch with the back of the
field. She had logged the fastest run in the semi-finals to recover from a
similarly precarious position but faced an uphill task on her way into T1.
Mathias
and Kuttor-Bragmayer hammered round the opening of the eight bike laps but
twenty-one of the thirty women soon came together in the lead group. Notably,
the reigning World Junior and World U23 champions, Ilona Hadhoum (FRA) and
Selina Klamt (GER), featured in the front pack. However one of the leading
names, Summer Rappaport (USA), found herself in the chase pack of eight that
leaked time with each lap.
Kuttor-Bragmayer
was the first through T2, sparking excitement from the home crowd. Erika
Ackerlund (USA) and Koch took up the initial chase before moving into the lead.
The German athlete, who claimed a maiden WTCS medal in 2023, was in fine form
and soon strode clear. With a lap down, she held a handy lead over Holland and
Hadhoum. Holland held the gap over the second lap while Ackerlund and Diana
Isakova (AIN) passed Hadhoum. On the third lap Koch continued to push. Holland,
though, wasn’t done.
The
former world champion whittled the gap down to 2 seconds and with barely a
kilometre to go looked primed to pounce. Koch, however, battled on and claimed
a World Cup win for the third consecutive season. Holland followed in 2nd
place, securing the highest finish of her post-maternity comeback. Isakova then
managed to out-kick Ackerlund to round out the podium. Rainsley took 5th place.
What they
had to say:
“The
first races (of the season) went really bad for me and so this one really means
a lot for me and I’m so happy that I am slowly feeling like myself and coming
back,” said Koch.
“The win
is always what you aim for but I couldn’t have done any more so I’m really
delighted with that,” said Holland. “I put some really great training together
earlier this year and I felt like I was ready to deliver a performance at the
beginning of the season and for one reason or another I couldn’t get it out.”
“I’m
delighted to join the number of women who are coming back from maternity leave
who’ve also put themselves on the podium and it’s actually even more special
because Tiszaujvaros was my first proper World Cup win.”
For her
part, Isakova said that she was “very happy” with her first ever World Cup
medal, adding, “It’s a wonderful, amazing feeling.”
FULL
RESULTS HERE https://www.triathlon.org/results/result/2024_world_triathlon_cup_tiszaujvaros/634255
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