Monika Orazem (SLO) continued her fantastic start to the Junior European Cup series with victory in Brno. The talented Orazem finished in a time of 1:06:57, almost two minutes ahead of her nearest challenger to record back to back victories following her success in Tournai last month.
Victory for the Junior Men went to Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt, who managed to hold off a strong challenge from the two local Czech athletes, Martin Debnar and Lukas Kocar, who delighted the home crowd with podium finishes.
Junior Women Race Review
Weather conditions were perfect throughout the day in Brno but in the afternoon a little rain fell during the start of the women’s race. Orazem (SLO) and Vilic (CRO) made impressive gains during the swim and exited the water at the same time, closely followed by Deldaele (BEL). But a much faster transition by Orazem in getting onto the bike and away was decisive, and she led from the front on the bike. Over 4 laps of a technical 5km course, nobody could match her speed and she built up a lead which was never threatened, finishing overall in 1:06:57.
Sara Vilic (CRO) will rue her first transition as she matched Orazem for time in the swim and run segments, but the overall lead established by Orazem on the bike was too great. Vilic finished second in 1:08:56 with Austrian Alina Hambrusch making up the podium in a time of 1:09:26.
There was disappointment as 9 of the starting 29 recorded a DNF. Barbora Hlavacova was the highest placed Czech finisher in the Women’s race. Her time of 1:11:30 earned her an 8th place finish.
Junior Men Race Review
By the time the Men’s race started the rain had stopped and the streets of Brno had dried out. It was a Belgian one-two, coming out of the water with Thomas Jurgens leading compatriot Christophe De Keyser. De Keyser lead a close group of six athletes all separated by a matter of seconds. Local favourites Martin Debnar and Lukas Kocar were tight in this pack.
Onto the bikes and the Czech athletes began working together. On the third lap Kocar made a breakaway to enter T2 in front, closely followed by team mate Debnar, Norwegian Blummenfelt and Jurgens (BEL). Behind this group was a tight group closely contesting positions five to thirteen.
However, it was Blummenfelt who was faster on the final run and he powered home leaving the two Czech athletes trailing to finish in 1:00:54 and win a thrilling Junior European Cup. Debnar (CZE) finished second in 1:01:14 and Kocar (CZE) was third in 1:01:23.
After a promising start, Jurgens fell away during the run to finish 17th overall but there was better encouragement for the Belgian squad with Geens, Vanderplancke and Ost the next three home to finish in the top six.