A world-class field of women athletes gathered today in Mazatlan, Mexico for the fifth stop of the 2006 ITU World Cup series. Vanessa Fernandes continued her dominance by winning her eighth straight world cup in 2:01:24, coming one step closer to Emma Carneys record twelve straight. Finishing second was Anja Dittmer (GER) in 2:02:46 who did not disappoint on her return to the world cup circuit after taking a break in 2005. In third place was Canadian Kathy Trembley in 2:02:55, with her first world cup podium.
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I felt really strong out there, stated Fernandes. I had a very good swim and came out with a good group for the bike. This is my kind of race.
Fernandes had a strong swim coming out of the water with a large group of seventeen women who stayed together for the entire bike ride settling into a comfortable pace and setting things up for a scorching run. It was just that as temperatures climbed quickly out on the exposed course.
It was very hot on the course. There was no shade anywhere, said second place Dittmer. A week a go I was training in the snow in Germany.
Once on the run Fernandes quickly opened a 30 second lead on the first lap of the four lap run. From there it grew and no one was able to catch her. Dittmer and Tremblay ran together, feeding off of each other, but could not close the gap.
This is my first podium. I came off the bike in a good spot and I just went for it. This is a new experience for me, stated Tremblay.
Other notables were Andrea Whitcombe (GBR) who had another strong race finishing in the top ten; Lauren Groves (CAN) as she flew throught the run moving up from the chase pack, which was down 90 seconds, to sixth place; and Laura Bennett (USA) who, with her ninth place finish, moves her into first place in the World Cup standings.
2006 ITU Mazatlan World Cup Elite Women
1.FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR)2:01:24
2.DITTMER, Anja (GER)2:02:46
3.TREMBLAY, Kathy (CAN)2:02:55
4.WHITCOMBE, Andrea (GBR)2:03:17
5.BURGOS, Ana (ESP)2:03:48
6.GROVES, Lauren (CAN)2:03:54
7.MURUA, Ainhoa (CAN)2:04:06
8.TUCKER, Helen (GBR)2:04:20
9.BENNETT, Laura (USA)2:04:42
10.SAVEGE, Jill (CAN)2:04:50