Swimrun has seen a surge of popularity among multisport enthusiasts with 200 races being held worldwide in 2016. And Monday 5th September sees the Stockholm archipelago in Sweden play host to the original – and toughest – swimrun race as 120 teams take on the ÖtillÖ grand final.
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This marks the culmination of a year of qualifying races that included the new British race, the ÖtillÖ Swimrun Isles of Scilly in June (see report here). Teams of two will swim and run a total of 75km as they traverse the 26 islands from Sandhamn to Utö, a race which breaks down into 10km of cold, rough sea swimming in the Baltic and 65km of tough trails, slippery rocks and rocky terrain (see our beginners’ guide to swimrun here).
Triathletes Racing
The event will include some notable names from the world of multisport, including Scottish triathlete, Ironman UK 2010 winner and three-time Ironman 70.3 winner Fraser Cartmell. He joins ultra-runner Andrew Fargus, who won the Scilly ÖtillÖ race with former pro triathlete Richard Stannard, who is unable to compete in Sweden this time. In total, 12 teams this year will include British athletes.
Another recognisable tri name competing this year is Faris Al Sultan, professional triathlete and 2005 Kona winner, who races with Werner Leitner.
Image: Jakob Edholm
Ones To Watch
Some previous winners and record holders will be heading to the championship race this weekend with titles to defend. Look out for Daniel Hansson and Lelle Moberg who hold the course record (2014) of 8 hours 16 mins. Also competing in the men’s teams are reigning world champs Paul Krochak and Oscar Olsson.
In the mixed race 2015 winners Staffan Björklund and Marika Wagner will be back to see if they can match or better their fifth-overall place of last year. Plus in the women’s teams, reigning world champs Annika Eriksson and Maja Tesch will compete in separate teams, with Kristin Larsson and Bibben Nordblom respectively,
The race will be streamed live online at http://otilloswimrun.com/live from 04:45 UK time. The 220 Triathlon team will also be following the race and posting live updates on Twitter (@220Triathlon) throughout, plus check back here for race reports and interviews.
ÖtillÖ Final 15
Also taking place this weekend is the new ÖtillÖ Final 15 race. Held on Saturday 3rd September, this gives swimrun teams the chance to experience the last stages of the Grand Final course in a shorter race and is one of a series of ‘sprint’ events launched by ÖtillÖ to introduce more athletes to the sport of swimrun.
In total, Final 15 athletes will race just over 2km of swimming and 14km of running, taking in a slightly modified route to the grand final finish line in Üto. Competing for 220 Triathlon is Editor Helen Webster (@Helen_Webster on Twitter) who joins a media team. Helen also competed earlier in the year in the ÖtillÖ swimrun isles of Scilly race with Swedish multi-time ÖtillÖ world champs finisher Göran Wernqvist (read her race blog here).
The Final 15 will also be streamed live at http://otilloswimrun.com/live, starting at 11:15am UK time on Saturday 3rd September.
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Interested in trying swimrun? Read our beginners’ guide to swimrun here and our feature on swimrun gear here.
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IMG and the Fengtai Sports Bureau of Beijing have announced that the Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee will compete in the fifth edition of the Beijing International Triathlon on Sunday 11 September.
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This will be Brownlee’s first race since winning the gold in Rio, as well as his first time competing in the Beijing International Triathlon. He placed 12th in his first Olympics in Beijing 2008, then returned to Beijing in 2011 to win his second ITU world title. Brownlee is also a two-time ITU World Champion (2009 and 2011); three-time European Champion (2010, 2011 and 2014); and current Commonwealth Champion.
“I’m looking forward to racing at Beijing International Triathlon and the challenge of the non-drafting format,” said Brownlee. “I think it’ll be a tough race against a quality field, especially as I don’t usually race the non-drafting format. I have always enjoyed racing in China and have fond memories from my two previous visits.”
In the non-drafting Olympic-distance (1.5km swim/40km bike/10km run) event, Brownlee will lead an elite field of professional triathletes including fellow Olympians Joe Maloy, Ashleigh Gentle, Vicente Hernandez and Barbara Riveros in the women’s race. Lining up against Brownlee will be regular Beijing entrant Greg Bennett and rising US non-drafting talent Cam Dye.
The Beijing International Triathlon will also be a return to China for Riveros who just captured fifth for Chile at the Rio Olympics, and also raced in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Professional triathletes participating in the 2016 Beijing International Triathlon include:
Men:
Josh Amberger (Australia)
Greg Bennett (Australia)
Alistair Brownlee (Great Britain) – 1st in Rio
Kevin Collington (United States of America)
Cameron Dye (United States of America)
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Eric Lagerstrom (United States of America)
Joe Maloy (United States of America) – 23rd in Rio
Vicente Hernandez (Spain) – 27th in Rio
Women:
Ashleigh Gentle (Australia) – 26th in Rio
Lauren Goss (United States of America)
Holly Lawrence (Great Britain)
Barbara Riveros (Chile) – 5th in Rio
Magali Tisseyre (Canada)
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Radka Vodickova (Czech Republic)
IMG and the Fengtai Sports Bureau of Beijing have announced that the Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee will compete in the fifth edition of the Beijing International Triathlon on Sunday 11 September.
Advertisement
This will be Brownlee’s first race since winning the gold in Rio, as well as his first time competing in the Beijing International Triathlon. He placed 12th in his first Olympics in Beijing 2008, then returned to Beijing in 2011 to win his second ITU world title. Brownlee is also a two-time ITU World Champion (2009 and 2011); three-time European Champion (2010, 2011 and 2014); and current Commonwealth Champion.
“I’m looking forward to racing at Beijing International Triathlon and the challenge of the non-drafting format,” said Brownlee. “I think it’ll be a tough race against a quality field, especially as I don’t usually race the non-drafting format. I have always enjoyed racing in China and have fond memories from my two previous visits.”
In the non-drafting Olympic-distance (1.5km swim/40km bike/10km run) event, Brownlee will lead an elite field of professional triathletes including fellow Olympians Joe Maloy, Ashleigh Gentle, Vicente Hernandez and Barbara Riveros in the women’s race. Lining up against Brownlee will be regular Beijing entrant Greg Bennett and rising US non-drafting talent Cam Dye.
The Beijing International Triathlon will also be a return to China for Riveros who just captured fifth for Chile at the Rio Olympics, and also raced in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Professional triathletes participating in the 2016 Beijing International Triathlon include:
Men:
Josh Amberger (Australia)
Greg Bennett (Australia)
Alistair Brownlee (Great Britain) – 1st in Rio
Kevin Collington (United States of America)
Cameron Dye (United States of America)
Eric Lagerstrom (United States of America)
Joe Maloy (United States of America) – 23rd in Rio
Vicente Hernandez (Spain) – 27th in Rio
Women:
Ashleigh Gentle (Australia) – 26th in Rio
Lauren Goss (United States of America)
Holly Lawrence (Great Britain)
Barbara Riveros (Chile) – 5th in Rio
Magali Tisseyre (Canada)
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Radka Vodickova (Czech Republic)
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They say no two races are the same, but in the case of the ÖtillÖ swimrun series, this seems to be especially true. The thing is, with swimrun there are so many variables. The course route, the terrain, the water conditions – added to which you race with a partner – all these things make each race feel like completely individual.
Advertisement
So, heading to the start of the inaugural ÖtillÖ Final 15 race in Stockholm on 3rd September I’m facing a series of emotions. Having already raced the new ÖtillÖ Swimrun Isles of Scilly earlier in the year (report here), people seem to have me down as some kind of swimrun veteran. But if I’m being completely honest, the day we’re facing in the Stockholm archipelago has me more than a little spooked…
So what is it? Well, in essence the Final 15 is exactly as it sounds. Forming part of the new ÖtillÖ Sprint race series, it offers a shorter version of an existing ‘full’ race. Only in this case, the full race in question is the mythical ÖtillÖ world championship final, renowned for being one of the world’s toughest endurance races, in which athletes traverse 75km of brutal trails, slippery rocks and current-strewn swims in the freezing Baltic.
“It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the course,” says founder Michael Lemmel during the race briefing on the ferry to the start line, “but our racers are a bit foggy by the time they reach it…. So this is a new way to experience the finish.”
Let’s be clear what we’re talking about here, though. The race is called the ‘Final 15’ when in reality it’s nearer 17km (and my Garmin finally reveals our race to be more like 18km!) and within that there are nine runs across often tricky, technical trails and eight swims, including strong currents at times, the longest of which is 900m.
Lemmel is right though – already from the ferry we can see just how beautiful the scenery in the area is, with dense woods sitting on rocky outcrops, while the air feels clean and fresh in a way that makes you desperate to get outside and take in the environment.
A Unique Experience
The Final 15 ÖtillÖ Sprint also gives you a chance to experience something that very few athletes will be lucky enough to go through. The full championship race follows two days later and only 120 teams of two are lucky enough to qualify to take on the full 75km course, with another 600 (ouch) registered on the wait list. So if ÖtillÖ is on your bucket list but you can’t contemplate the full distance, or never managed to qualify, this is a good alternative.
I’m racing with Laurent Grabet, a fellow journo from Switzerland, who I meet the night before. He’s never raced swimrun before, but with plenty of trail experience and a faster swim ability than me, we decide to go for it and try racing tethered with belts and ropes, with hand paddes for Laurent in the swim.
Many of the water exits were straight on to slippery, steep rocks. Image: Jakob Edholm
The first run is only 1400m, so we’re soon arriving at the first – and longest – swim. I’d been nervous about water temperatures after really struggling in the Scilly race, but in fact either a summer of hanging around in lakes trying to toughen up has worked or things are much warmer here, as the water feels comfortable to swim in.
Laurent and I soon get into a rhythm and we’re keeping up well with the field. I get the odd paddle in the face but I’m loving the beautiful surroundings – and bizarrely, am enjoying spotting the many jellyfish swimming beneath me. Not everyone reported liking them so much!
Swim done and we’re into the longest of the runs, at 7400m. Most of this one is remarkably flat and easy-going for ÖtillÖ though, with the first 5k taking us down wide country trail roads. It starts to pelt it down with rain, but actually we don’t mind as it’s refreshing and means we don’t have to bother ‘cabbing down’ (swimrun speak for peeling off the top of the wetsuit to avoid overheating).
Technical Terrain
From here on though, the terrain soon starts to become more technical. I’m more used to flat runs and am also conscious of a recent Achilles injury that is still a little creaky. Laurent pushes the pace though and I’m surprised to find I (mostly) fall into step with him – although there are a couple of moments I fall flat on my face…
Distances from here are much shorter between swim and run legs, so we’re constantly in and out of the water. We seem to have transitions pretty nailed though – apart from one memorable swim where I forget to do up the front zip on my wetsuit and it promptly filled with water on each stroke. Not a mistake you make twice.
Runs varied from technical trails to swampy undergrowth. Image: Jakob Edholm
One thing I am finding tricky though is the water exits. Many are on to steep and slippery rocks and I just can’t get a foothold. Swimrun is a friendly sport though and I find other swimrunners behind me only too happy to give my bum a good shove to help me out!
As well as trying to keep to a decent pace, we’re trying to take in the scenery as well though. There can’t be anything else in the world like this race – we run through beautiful forests, along magical, almost fairytale, trails and scamper across barren rocks feeling like the last people on earth.
With no cut-offs in the Sprints, there’s plenty of time to enjoy them! Image: Jakob Edholm
All too soon we reach the final island – Utö – where the course slightly alters from the world championship course to allow us to take in a final beautiful trail and a couple of short extra swims, before we head up the final hill to the finish line where race organiser Michael Lemmel is there again to greet finishers with a hug – along with a welcome finish line buffet! Our finish time? Three hours and five seconds…. We joke that if I hadn’t spectacularly fallen off the rocks back into the sea during one swim exit we’d have come in under three!
220’s Editor Helen and race partner Laurent at the finish. Image: Magnus Ormestad
There’s no doubting that this is a tough race. Don’t be fooled by the ‘Sprint’ name – you’ll need to be in reasonable shape to attempt it and you’ll meet some tricky trails and rough currents along the way. But most regular triathletes should be more than up to the challenge and it’s also a fantastic way to experience the things that truly make swimrun unique. Plus having the opportunity to try out the same course as the world champs racers – but without having to get in shape for 75km – is a truly wonderful experience.
Race done and I’m tired but by no means exhausted and I’m soon wondering what it would take to manage the full distance some day. That’s the other thing with the new Sprint distances. They hook you in. Enter one and prepare to be converted…
Find out more about the ÖtillÖ full and sprint distance race series here.
Advertisement
Interested in trying swimrun? Read our beginners’ guide to swimrun here and our feature on swimrun gear here.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
They say no two races are the same, but in the case of the ÖtillÖ swimrun series, this seems to be especially true. The thing is, with swimrun there are so many variables. The course route, the terrain, the water conditions – added to which you race with a partner – all these things make each race feel like completely individual.
Advertisement
So, heading to the start of the inaugural ÖtillÖ Final 15 race in Stockholm on 3rd September I’m facing a series of emotions. Having already raced the new ÖtillÖ Swimrun Isles of Scilly earlier in the year (report here), people seem to have me down as some kind of swimrun veteran. But if I’m being completely honest, the day we’re facing in the Stockholm archipelago has me more than a little spooked…
So what is it? Well, in essence the Final 15 is exactly as it sounds. Forming part of the new ÖtillÖ Sprint race series, it offers a shorter version of an existing ‘full’ race. Only in this case, the full race in question is the mythical ÖtillÖ world championship final, renowned for being one of the world’s toughest endurance races, in which athletes traverse 75km of brutal trails, slippery rocks and current-strewn swims in the freezing Baltic.
“It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the course,” says founder Michael Lemmel during the race briefing on the ferry to the start line, “but our racers are a bit foggy by the time they reach it…. So this is a new way to experience the finish.”
Let’s be clear what we’re talking about here, though. The race is called the ‘Final 15’ when in reality it’s nearer 17km (and my Garmin finally reveals our race to be more like 18km!) and within that there are nine runs across often tricky, technical trails and eight swims, including strong currents at times, the longest of which is 900m.
Lemmel is right though – already from the ferry we can see just how beautiful the scenery in the area is, with dense woods sitting on rocky outcrops, while the air feels clean and fresh in a way that makes you desperate to get outside and take in the environment.
A Unique Experience
The Final 15 ÖtillÖ Sprint also gives you a chance to experience something that very few athletes will be lucky enough to go through. The full championship race follows two days later and only 120 teams of two are lucky enough to qualify to take on the full 75km course, with another 600 (ouch) registered on the wait list. So if ÖtillÖ is on your bucket list but you can’t contemplate the full distance, or never managed to qualify, this is a good alternative.
I’m racing with Laurent Grabet, a fellow journo from Switzerland, who I meet the night before. He’s never raced swimrun before, but with plenty of trail experience and a faster swim ability than me, we decide to go for it and try racing tethered with belts and ropes, with hand paddes for Laurent in the swim.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Many of the water exits were straight on to slippery, steep rocks. Image: Jakob Edholm
The first run is only 1400m, so we’re soon arriving at the first – and longest – swim. I’d been nervous about water temperatures after really struggling in the Scilly race, but in fact either a summer of hanging around in lakes trying to toughen up has worked or things are much warmer here, as the water feels comfortable to swim in.
Laurent and I soon get into a rhythm and we’re keeping up well with the field. I get the odd paddle in the face but I’m loving the beautiful surroundings – and bizarrely, am enjoying spotting the many jellyfish swimming beneath me. Not everyone reported liking them so much!
Swim done and we’re into the longest of the runs, at 7400m. Most of this one is remarkably flat and easy-going for ÖtillÖ though, with the first 5k taking us down wide country trail roads. It starts to pelt it down with rain, but actually we don’t mind as it’s refreshing and means we don’t have to bother ‘cabbing down’ (swimrun speak for peeling off the top of the wetsuit to avoid overheating).
Technical Terrain
From here on though, the terrain soon starts to become more technical. I’m more used to flat runs and am also conscious of a recent Achilles injury that is still a little creaky. Laurent pushes the pace though and I’m surprised to find I (mostly) fall into step with him – although there are a couple of moments I fall flat on my face…
Distances from here are much shorter between swim and run legs, so we’re constantly in and out of the water. We seem to have transitions pretty nailed though – apart from one memorable swim where I forget to do up the front zip on my wetsuit and it promptly filled with water on each stroke. Not a mistake you make twice.
Runs varied from technical trails to swampy undergrowth. Image: Jakob Edholm
One thing I am finding tricky though is the water exits. Many are on to steep and slippery rocks and I just can’t get a foothold. Swimrun is a friendly sport though and I find other swimrunners behind me only too happy to give my bum a good shove to help me out!
As well as trying to keep to a decent pace, we’re trying to take in the scenery as well though. There can’t be anything else in the world like this race – we run through beautiful forests, along magical, almost fairytale, trails and scamper across barren rocks feeling like the last people on earth.
With no cut-offs in the Sprints, there’s plenty of time to enjoy them! Image: Jakob Edholm
All too soon we reach the final island – Utö – where the course slightly alters from the world championship course to allow us to take in a final beautiful trail and a couple of short extra swims, before we head up the final hill to the finish line where race organiser Michael Lemmel is there again to greet finishers with a hug – along with a welcome finish line buffet! Our finish time? Three hours and five seconds…. We joke that if I hadn’t spectacularly fallen off the rocks back into the sea during one swim exit we’d have come in under three!
220’s Editor Helen and race partner Laurent at the finish. Image: Magnus Ormestad
There’s no doubting that this is a tough race. Don’t be fooled by the ‘Sprint’ name – you’ll need to be in reasonable shape to attempt it and you’ll meet some tricky trails and rough currents along the way. But most regular triathletes should be more than up to the challenge and it’s also a fantastic way to experience the things that truly make swimrun unique. Plus having the opportunity to try out the same course as the world champs racers – but without having to get in shape for 75km – is a truly wonderful experience.
Race done and I’m tired but by no means exhausted and I’m soon wondering what it would take to manage the full distance some day. That’s the other thing with the new Sprint distances. They hook you in. Enter one and prepare to be converted…
Find out more about the ÖtillÖ full and sprint distance race series here.
Advertisement
Interested in trying swimrun? Read our beginners’ guide to swimrun here and our feature on swimrun gear here.
Summer Cook of the USA claimed her first World Triathlon Series victory today in freezing conditions, sprinting away near the end of the run to triumph in Edmonton over sprint-distance.
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Base layers, arm warmers and even wooly gloves in Brit Lucy Hall’s case were the order of the day, as athlete’s battled air temperatures of just 8°c. The water wasn’t as cold as expected at 17°c, but still athletes who were expected to be high up the field struggled to get any leeway. Even so, British super-swimmer Jessica Learmonth was first out of the water as expected in 9mins flat, with Hall close behind and series leader Flora Duffy (BER) also up there.
The bike quickly split into two packs, with the American trio of Katy Zaferes, Sarah True and Summer Cook all in there. Flora Duffy took an early lead, but was reeled in by the Americans who controlled the 20km four-lap ride. Non Stanford and Vicky Holland, third and fourth in the Olympics, were in the chase pack and were around 30secs down for most of the ride.
Kirsten Kasper of the USA was first to break on the run, and was quickly joined by Flora Duffy (BER) and Sarah True (USA). Holland and Zaferes managed to bridge some gap on the first lap of the run, and were roughly 7secs back.
That didn’t last long, as True widened the gap and surprisingly the only athlete closing in was fellow American Summer Cook. Despite having a terrible T2, Cook blasted through the pack and finally approached True with 500m to go – as she sprinted past clad in a full compression skinsuit to keep the warmth in, the choice of clothing clearly paid off as she held form and sprinted for the line with pure grit and determination. True came in seconds later, followed by Zaferes to complete an American clean sweep on the podium.
Of the Brits, Vicky Holland and Non Stanford managed to break the top 10 in 5th and 7th place respectively. Jodie Stimpson and Lucy Hall both had disappointing days, both posting DNF’s. Flora Duffy retains her lead in the world series overall, with the final race in Cozumel, Mexico on 18th September.
Results
Summer Cook (USA) – 56:49
Sarah True (USA) – 56:52
Katy Zaferes (USA) – 56:56
Flora Duffy (BER) – 57:10
Vicky Holland (GBR) – 57:15
Kirsten Kasper (USA) – 57:19
Non Stanford (GBR) – 57:30
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Emma Jackson (AUS) – 57:36
Gillian Sanders (RSA) – 57:37
Jolanda Annen (SUI) – 57:41
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What did you think of the race? let us know in the comments!
Summer Cook of the USA claimed her first World Triathlon Series victory today in freezing conditions, sprinting away near the end of the run to triumph in Edmonton over sprint-distance.
Advertisement
Base layers, arm warmers and even wooly gloves in Brit Lucy Hall’s case were the order of the day, as athlete’s battled air temperatures of just 8°c. The water wasn’t as cold as expected at 17°c, but still athletes who were expected to be high up the field struggled to get any leeway. Even so, British super-swimmer Jessica Learmonth was first out of the water as expected in 9mins flat, with Hall close behind and series leader Flora Duffy (BER) also up there.
The bike quickly split into two packs, with the American trio of Katy Zaferes, Sarah True and Summer Cook all in there. Flora Duffy took an early lead, but was reeled in by the Americans who controlled the 20km four-lap ride. Non Stanford and Vicky Holland, third and fourth in the Olympics, were in the chase pack and were around 30secs down for most of the ride.
Kirsten Kasper of the USA was first to break on the run, and was quickly joined by Flora Duffy (BER) and Sarah True (USA). Holland and Zaferes managed to bridge some gap on the first lap of the run, and were roughly 7secs back.
That didn’t last long, as True widened the gap and surprisingly the only athlete closing in was fellow American Summer Cook. Despite having a terrible T2, Cook blasted through the pack and finally approached True with 500m to go – as she sprinted past clad in a full compression skinsuit to keep the warmth in, the choice of clothing clearly paid off as she held form and sprinted for the line with pure grit and determination. True came in seconds later, followed by Zaferes to complete an American clean sweep on the podium.
Of the Brits, Vicky Holland and Non Stanford managed to break the top 10 in 5th and 7th place respectively. Jodie Stimpson and Lucy Hall both had disappointing days, both posting DNF’s. Flora Duffy retains her lead in the world series overall, with the final race in Cozumel, Mexico on 18th September.
Results
Summer Cook (USA) – 56:49
Sarah True (USA) – 56:52
Katy Zaferes (USA) – 56:56
Flora Duffy (BER) – 57:10
Vicky Holland (GBR) – 57:15
Kirsten Kasper (USA) – 57:19
Non Stanford (GBR) – 57:30
Emma Jackson (AUS) – 57:36
Gillian Sanders (RSA) – 57:37
Jolanda Annen (SUI) – 57:41
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What did you think of the race? let us know in the comments!
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Jonny Brownlee pulled off a fantastic victory at the penultimate World Triathlon Series race in Edmonton today, storming away on the run with Mario Mola and Richard Murray in second and third respectively. in a fantastic race for the Brits, Grant Sheldon came fourth, Thomas Bishop fifth and Adam Bowden seventh, showing the strength in depth within British Triathlon.
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Despite the race taking place shortly after the Olympics, many who were there in Rio made the start line, including sprint specialist Mario Mola (ESP) Richard Murray (RSA) and Pierre La Corre (FRA). As well as Olympic silver medallist Jonny Brownlee, other Brits on the start line included Tom Bishop, Adam Bowden and Grant Sheldon.
The swim began as always with Richard Varga (SVK) establishing a huge lead midway through the 750m course. Varga pushed on to finish the swim in a blistering 8:17mins, though it quickly became apparent he had no desire to ride solo as he was quickly joined by Jonny Brownlee and Arron Royle (AUS).
The chase pack were around 20secs down after lap 1 of 4 on the 20km bike leg, and the front three continued to work incredibly hard to keep their lead. Mola was in the chase group, and the other three Brits were all in there alongside Murray.
As the pecking order was maintained throughout the entire bike leg, the top three entered T2 with Brownlee quickly surging into the lead. Royle had a poor transition and was quickly caught by Mola, Murray and Sheldon, who looked to be battling it out for the podium places on the 5km run.
As Brownlee continued to extend his lead, Mola and Murray broke free of Sheldon, having the race of his life, as Tom Bishop moved up to fifth place with 2km to go. Brownlee broke the tape in 51:39mins, a whole 17secs clear of Mola and completing another dominant performance on the ITU circuit.
Mola still leads the overall standings, and Jonny Brownlee has now moved up to second with Fernando Alarza of Spain in third. The world champion will therefore be decided in the Cozumel Grand Final on 18th September, and a grandstand finish could be on the cards between Brownlee and Mola in Mexico.
Results
1. Jonny Brownlee (GBR) – 51:39
2. Mario Mola (ESP) – 51:56
3. Richard Murray (RSA) – 52:01
4. Grant Sheldon (GBR) – 52:09
5. Thomas Bishop (GBR) – 52:10
6. Steffen Justus (GER) – 52:15
7. Adam Bowden (GBR) – 52:19
8. Jonathan Zipf (GER) – 52:22
9. Shachar Sagiv (ISR) – 52:23
10. Joao Pereira (POR) – 52:28
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What did you think of the race? Let us know in the comments!
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Jonny Brownlee pulled off a fantastic victory at the penultimate World Triathlon Series race in Edmonton today, storming away on the run with Mario Mola and Richard Murray in second and third respectively. in a fantastic race for the Brits, Grant Sheldon came fourth, Thomas Bishop fifth and Adam Bowden seventh, showing the strength in depth within British Triathlon.
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Despite the race taking place shortly after the Olympics, many who were there in Rio made the start line, including sprint specialist Mario Mola (ESP) Richard Murray (RSA) and Pierre La Corre (FRA). As well as Olympic silver medallist Jonny Brownlee, other Brits on the start line included Tom Bishop, Adam Bowden and Grant Sheldon.
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The swim began as always with Richard Varga (SVK) establishing a huge lead midway through the 750m course. Varga pushed on to finish the swim in a blistering 8:17mins, though it quickly became apparent he had no desire to ride solo as he was quickly joined by Jonny Brownlee and Arron Royle (AUS).
The chase pack were around 20secs down after lap 1 of 4 on the 20km bike leg, and the front three continued to work incredibly hard to keep their lead. Mola was in the chase group, and the other three Brits were all in there alongside Murray.
As the pecking order was maintained throughout the entire bike leg, the top three entered T2 with Brownlee quickly surging into the lead. Royle had a poor transition and was quickly caught by Mola, Murray and Sheldon, who looked to be battling it out for the podium places on the 5km run.
As Brownlee continued to extend his lead, Mola and Murray broke free of Sheldon, having the race of his life, as Tom Bishop moved up to fifth place with 2km to go. Brownlee broke the tape in 51:39mins, a whole 17secs clear of Mola and completing another dominant performance on the ITU circuit.
Mola still leads the overall standings, and Jonny Brownlee has now moved up to second with Fernando Alarza of Spain in third. The world champion will therefore be decided in the Cozumel Grand Final on 18th September, and a grandstand finish could be on the cards between Brownlee and Mola in Mexico.
Results
1. Jonny Brownlee (GBR) – 51:39
2. Mario Mola (ESP) – 51:56
3. Richard Murray (RSA) – 52:01
4. Grant Sheldon (GBR) – 52:09
5. Thomas Bishop (GBR) – 52:10
6. Steffen Justus (GER) – 52:15
7. Adam Bowden (GBR) – 52:19
8. Jonathan Zipf (GER) – 52:22
9. Shachar Sagiv (ISR) – 52:23
10. Joao Pereira (POR) – 52:28
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What did you think of the race? Let us know in the comments!
Lauren Brandon led the women out of the water onto Mooloolaba Beach, with 26 year-old Lawrence hot on her heels just 30 seconds back. About a minute behind the lead women were Annabel Luxford, Leanda Cave, Daniela Ryf, and Caroline Steffen.
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At the first hill on the bike Lawrence managed to pull ahead, and by the halfway point she had a three minute lead over the chase pack, including Steffen, Cave, and Kaye. Heather Wurtele put in time into the women all day to come off the bike in third.
Lawrence’s 1:21 run was enough to hold off the hard-charging Melissa Hauschildt, who used her impressive 1:18 half marathon to run her way into second. Wurtele pushed into the final place on the podium, while defending champion Daniela Ryf fought hard for fourth despite tired legs. The Sunshine Coast-based Steffen, who made this race her major aim this year, was impressive in fifth.
In a thrilling finale Australian Tim Reed took the men’s, beating German Sebastian Kienle by just two seconds after the two had been vying for the lead throughout the run, never being more than 20 metres from each other and ended up swapping the lead six times.
Top 10 Women
Name
Ctry
Total
Swim
Bike
Run
Holly Lawrence
GBR
4:09:11
0:23:23
2:19:27
1:21:48
Melissa Hauschildt
AUS
4:11:08
0:26:45
2:21:06
1:18:43
Heather Wurtele
CAN
4:13:35
0:25:04
2:22:26
1:21:38
Daniela Ryf
CHE
4:14:08
0:24:11
2:23:47
1:21:18
Caroline Steffen
CHE
4:17:15
0:24:12
2:23:08
1:25:09
Annabel Luxford
AUS
4:17:25
0:24:10
2:23:43
1:24:57
Laura Philipp
DEU
4:17:39
0:27:15
2:24:45
1:20:59
Alicia Kaye
USA
4:17:52
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0:24:16
2:23:30
1:25:35
Radka Vodickova
CZE
4:18:16
0:24:09
2:26:51
1:22:37
Magali Tisseyre
CAN
4:18:18
0:24:15
2:23:49
1:25:36
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Top 10 Men
1
Tim Reed
AUS
3:44:14
0:22:53
2:06:12
1:11:03
2
Sebastian Kienle
DEU
3:44:16
0:24:14
2:04:45
1:11:18
3
Ruedi Wild
CHE
3:44:40
0:22:47
2:06:28
1:11:07
4
Terenzo Bozzone
NZL
3:45:22
0:22:44
2:06:20
1:12:44
5
Sam Appleton
AUS
3:46:02
0:22:40
2:06:23
1:12:51
6
Nicholas Kastelein
AUS
3:46:21
0:22:43
2:06:41
1:12:46
7
Tim Don
GBR
3:46:32
0:22:51
2:06:37
1:12:57
8
Maurice Clavel
DEU
3:46:47
0:22:53
2:06:18
1:13:39
9
Lionel Sanders
CAN
3:47:14
0:25:41
2:06:42
1:10:34
10
Craig Alexander
AUS
3:47:28
0:22:49
2:06:39
1:14:03