Chariot racing was the sport of choice 2000 years ago at the Circus Maximus, although Rome can hardly have seen a finish as fast and frantic as that of the women’s race at this morning’s World Triathlon Cup. Five women had come through the numerous twists and hurdles of the race to have gold in sight on the final run lap. But when Carina Reicht (AUT) unleashed a scintillating final move, no one could answer.
In a duck-scattering 750m swim, Selina Klamt (GER) was first out with Marta Pintanel Raymundo (ESP) far too close for comfort in any other context. The pace had been high, the field strung out. Yet the key early move was still to come.
Robin Dreijling (NED) and Katie Rodda (GBR) took off on the opening lap of the bike, quickly earning a lead of 18 seconds over a chase pack of eight. Klamt and Pintanel were safely in that group. Then came the main pack a further 16 seconds removed, with Tjasa Vrtacic (SLO) setting the pace.
As the lap count doubled, so did the lead pair’s advantage. Ilaria Zane (ITA), an athlete with a point to prove, and Mathilde Gautier (FRA) drove the chase from 36 seconds in arrears. Gradually, they contained the loss of seconds.
Dutch champion Dreijling finished 7th at World U23 Championships last year alongside taking 8th place in Rome. She was evidently gunning for more this time and looked fantastic on the sharp hill. Rodda, meanwhile, had never previously finished in the top-10 of a World Cup, but had already been close with a 12th place in Saidia.
However, the sheer weight of numbers in the chase pack - with over thirty women in pursuit - began to tell as the gap slimmed, albeit sticking around half a minute. With a series of great runners in the pack, that did not look like enough of a margin.
World Cup winner Sandra Dodet (FRA) was an obvious threat, as was Carina Reicht (AUT) who broke the Austrian 5km record back in May. Furthermore, Costanza Aprinelli (ITA) and Sara Guerrero Manso (ESP) were confident after winning maiden World Cup medals earlier in the year, and the former had plenty of home support hollering her onwards.
The lead duo shot into T2 with an ominous multicoloured cloud of tri-suits behind. The gap was down to 25 seconds as Dreijling and Rodda left transition together. Verena Steinhauser (ITA) and Franka Rust (GER) were the best of the chasers in the changeover.
The switch in lead came soon after. Dodet, Pintanel, Rust and Reicht established a front pack over the course of the first of the two run laps. Cathia Schär (SUI), the bronze medallist in 2023, completed the five leaders going into the final lap.
Move prompted countermove in an incredibly tactical final 2.5km. But then Reicht struck on the downhill section, an attack as sudden, discombobulating and devastating as the Ides of March. Behind, Dodet went too. Schär then came past Rust only for the German to fight back with everything she had left. No one, though, would catch Reicht.
It was not the biggest margin of victory in the world, but when it comes to first World Cup golds, few care by how much they are won. After Europe Cup successes earlier this year, this marked a huge step forward for Reicht. Dodet was next home, adding another World Cup medal to her tally. Rust then held on for a first ever World Cup medal in 3rd place after only making her debut earlier in the season. Lastly, Schär and Pintanel rounded out the top-5 in a finale that would have had the masters of the Circus Maximus green with envy.
What they said
Carina Reicht: “I had a feeling at, and especially in, the first run lap that I was like really in control. I knew I could push more so I tried to do that in the second lap and it worked out.”
Franka Rust: “It was my second start in the World Cup and yeah, I didn't expect it. I know I'm capable of doing it, but yeah, at the end, always a bit of luck and yeah, you have to have a perfect day and then I delivered it today. It was just amazing.”
