Young Auckland triathlete Teresa Adam enjoyed her best finish on the ITU World Cup circuit with an impressive 15th place at Tiszaujvaros in Hungary overnight while 19 year old Rebecca Kingsford (Tirau) finished in 32nd as both continued their preparation for the U23 World Championships in Budapest next month.
The race was won by Yulia Sapunova (UKR) from Jodie Swallow (GBR) and Carla Moreno (BRA) with the Ukraine triathlete winning her first World Cup title in a sprint finish. Victory was a while in coming for the experienced Sapunova with over 50 ITU World Cup races under her belt before Tiszaujvaros.
Adam finished less than two minutes behind Sapunova in a race where results mattered less than vital experience ahead of the big event this year for both Adam and Kingsford, the elite U23 World Championships in Budapest next month.
In the men’s race leading New Zealanders James Elvery and Tony Dodds were in touch out of the water but found themselves in the main field watching a breakaway group of five riders put over a minute on the pack during the 40km bike ride. In a reminder of last year’s Russian podium clean sweep, the lead group included three Russians, Malyshev, Vasiliev and Turbaevskiy along with Australian Josh Amberger and Spaniard Godoy.
While the leaders were moving away, Elvery and Dodds were joined by teenager Tom Davison, Dylan McNeice and Ben Pattle in the main chase group that by now numbered 60, with Callum Millward a further minute behind and struggling after a poor swim.
Surprisingly though the lead group was run down on the 10km run home, albeit only in the final two kilometres with Reinaldo Colucci (BRA) flying home to claim victory from Crisanto Grajales (MEX) and Martin Krnavek (CZE), shutting the flying Russians off the podium they owned in 2009.
Elvery was the best of the Kiwis in 19th place with Ben Pattle in 32nd also holding his form reasonably well on the run, albeit never making an impression on the leaders. Tony Dodds will be disappointed with his 46th placing while teenager Tom Davison will have picked up invaluable experience in coming home 51st as both prepare for the U23 World Championships. Millward was next in 55th with McNeice fading on the run to come home 57th.
ITU World Cup Triathlon: Tiszaujvaros, Hungary
Elite Women
1 Y Sapunaova (UKR) 2:01:01
2 J Swallow (GBR) 2:01:03
3 C Moreno (BRA) 2:01:12
4 A Jerzyk (POL) 2:01:20
5 E Jackson (AUS) 2:01:30
Plus NZers
15 T Adam (NZL) 2:02:44
32 R Kingsford (NZL) 2:04:32
Elite Men
1 R Colucci (BRA) 1:49:07
2 C Grajales (MEX) 1:49:10
3 M Krnavek (CZE) 1:49:13
4 Y Malyshev (RUS) 1:49:22
5 R Wild (SUI) 1:49:27
Plus NZers
19 James Elvery (NZL) 1:50:24
32 Ben Pattle (NZL) 1:51:01
46 Tony Dodds (NZL) 1:52:11
51 Tom Davison (NZL) 1:52:26
55 Callum Millward (NZL) 1:52:53
57 Dylan McNeice (NZL) 1:52:59
