It was hot and dry in the Quebec capital for Friday’s qualification races of the Groupe Copley World Triathlon Championship Series Montreal, with the super-sprint two-day format making its Series debut in grand style.
The men’s and women’s fields were
split in two, the top ten from each race making it through to Saturday’s three-race
finals, the remainder going into a repechage for the remaining ten spots. The
action didn’t stop, and Saturday’s 30-deep, three race finals are set to see
more fireworks on the blue carpet.
A 300m swim lay ahead of those on the
start lines, and it was Olympic Champion Flora Duffy (BER)‘s name first up on
the list as she mounts a charge towards for a third world title to continue her
remarkable year.
Also going out in that first
qualifier were Team USA’s Olympic silver medallists Taylor Knibb and Katie
Zaferes, and it was Knibb who found herself with the clear water ahead as she
neared the swim exit and steeled for the long run into transition.
Behind her it was Zaferes, Duffy and
Great Britain’s Non Stanford and the four had a 14-second gap over a chasing
five including Verena Steinhauser (ITA), Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL) and Leonie
Periault (FRA). By the end of the third bike lap there were 15 women chasing
the 6 spots still within reach, Knibb stretching away out front.
By the end of the run, it was between
four athletes to make the final three spots, GB’s Olivia Mathias, Italian
Beatrice Mallozzi and Anabel Knoll doing enough to make the finals, Knoll’s
compatriot Marlene Gomez-Islinger missing out by the narrowest of margins.
Canadian medal hope Amelie Kretz had to pull out with injury.
The second women’s qualifier was also
a story of two Germans, this time Laura Lindemann and Nina Eim finishing one
and two to book their safe passage to Saturday’s triple treat in a time
50bseconds more conservative than the first.
Brazil’s Vittoria Lopes had been
fastest through the water and stayed in touch as a large bike pack formed, but
after 18 athletes poured into T2 together, she faded out of the ten, while the
likes of Angelica Olmo, Sophie Coldwell and Emma Jackson dug in. Kirsten Kasper
(USA) had also dropped out and would have to race again to progress.
USA did qualify two through cleanly,
Erika Ackerlund and Taylor Spivey moving onto Saturday’s start lists along with
short-course specialist Ainsley Thorpe (NZL).
Unsurprisingly the pace was slower in
the repechage as the mercury hit 32 degrees and the athletes readied to go
again. This time there was no mistake from Vittoria Lopes, who again
spearheaded the swim and even biked away from her nearest rival Kirsten Kasper,
only to drop back on the run to eighth.
Natalie Van Coevorden had a tough
time in the swim trying to come back from the far side but was able to recover
and take the tenth and final slot at the line. Thirteen seconds ahead, Kasper
had taken first with a seven-minute-flat 2km run, France’s Audrey Merle in
second.
Australia’s Hedgeland sisters Jaz and
Kira ensured four Australian women made the final 30, while Gomez-Islinger made
no mistake this time around, the Arzachena World Cup winner heading through to
Saturday’s trio of races.
“That was not planned I will admit,”
said a surprised Taylor Knibb. “The aim was to keep the run in control and it
was a good call. I know people will probably have tactics than me for the
weekend so we will see how it plays out.”
“I had a bit of a rough start on the
left-hand side in the first heat and I really paid the price for that,” said
Natalie van Coevorden. “Coming into the repechage I knew I had the ability to
go right so I wanted to make it as easy as possible going into tomorrow and I
am really glad I could make it through. Not on the easiest note, I am just glad
to make it.”
For the full list of results and
qualifiers click here https://triathlon.org/events/start_lists/2021_world_triathlon_montreal?mc_cid=71e0d7f4a1&mc_eid=6139649918
ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON
World Triathlon is the international
governing body for the Olympic 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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