Explore the latest in international triathlon with the Monday Morning Mix
With only two races on the slate, the world of triathlon had a quieter weekend. Yet it was one that had no shortage of significance through the latest round in the chase of Olympic qualification points and the glimpse at some potential Olympians of the future. Find out all the key details below in the Monday Morning Mix.
Beijing World Cup
A long-awaited return to the Chinese capital was first on the agenda, and how the home team delivered. Xirui Zhang (CHN) powered to a first ever World Cup podium for China as he claimed the silver medal behind China-trained Max Studer (SUI) in the men’s race. A few hours later, Xinyu Lin (CHN) went even better as she scored a first ever Chinese victory on the World Cup stage.
Studer and Zhang had ridden well to bridge to the front after a fast swim from Hungarian duo Márk Dévay and Márton Kropkó laid the platform for an early breakaway. Seth Rider (USA) would lead in and out of T2 but Studer, the WTCS Weihai winner, was in fine form as he won on the back of a field-leading 30:00 10km split. Right with him, though, was Zhang, who came into the race having placed 2nd at the Asian Games, and the athlete from China finished only 9 seconds behind Studer as he held off bronze medallist Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP).
Meanwhile, a seven-athlete breakaway headed up by Lin and swim leader Márta Kropkó (HUN) took control of the women’s race. Coming into Beijing, Gwen Jorgensen (USA) and Nina Eim (GER) were the only women starting to have won a World Cup event (9 and 3 times apiece), but both were left stranded in the chase pack.
In torrential conditions, Lin and Kropkó pulled clear on the 10km run. Kropkó had already claimed a maiden World Cup medal earlier in the summer, but it was Lin that had the better finish as she made triathlon history by taking the gold medal by 5 seconds. WTCS Pontevedra medallist Kate Waugh (GBR) had enough in the tank to hold off the fast-finishing Anqi Huang (CHN) – the top runner from the chase pack, but still slower than Lin and Kropkó – to secure the bronze medal. View the full results here.
Melilla Europe Youth Championships
In Spain, Europe’s top youth talents (aged 2009 or younger) competed for the continental crown in their age-class over a multi-round super-sprint format. In the men’s final, Artur Gaspar (POR) launched himself to the first international win of his nascent career after navigating a tense running race.
Most of the 30-strong field came together after the early pace of Csaba Izsák (HUN) in the 350m swim (3:45 split) did not cause too much damage. Gaspar would be pushed all the way, in particular by Luxembourg’s silver medallist Emile Vanolst, but came out on top thanks to a 5:58 2.1km run split.
As it happened, Théo Cini of France was the only man to match Gapsar’s split. However, in a testament to the minor details, Cini lost valuable seconds in the swim and both transitions to finish 6th, 12 seconds down on Gaspar. Víctor Fernández Ortiz (ESP) completed the podium, finishing 7 seconds behind Gaspar.
Over in the women’s race, Switzerland’s future in triathlon became even brighter as Aimie Decrausaz (SUI) backed up her semi-final victory with a comprehensive win in the final. After her compatriots Anouk Danna (SUI) and Kimey Casanova (SUI) – the latter of whom placed 6th in the final in Melilla – placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively, at the World Junior Championships, Switzerland now has a third major talent to nurture over the coming years.
Yet Decrausaz did not have things all her own way. Summer Smith (GBR) led the swim (3:57), putting 25 seconds into Decrausaz who had to work in the chase pack on the bike to draw back on level terms. Korinna Katona (HUN), already a Europe Junior Cup winner in Derry this year, was another to pull back Smith and the early leaders. The Hungarian was then the first athlete through the second transition. Indeed, heading out onto the run Katona even led Decrausaz by 11 seconds.
The Swiss athlete had her final trick up her sleeve, though, and ripped a 6:21 split to come through and take the win. Katona had the second fastest run split (6:45) and earned the silver medal, 13 seconds behind Decrausaz, while Ellie Birchall (GBR) prevailed in a battle of three Brits and Casanova to snag the bronze. View the full results here.
