Successful Triathlon Transition For McIlroy In Hungary

Kate McIlroy wins the Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup (Photo: Janos Schmidt / triathlon.org)

New Zealand's Kate McIlroy won her first ITU Triathlon World Cup in the hot conditions of Tiszaujvaros in Hungary. The former world mountain running champion and national steeplechase record holder sprinted away from Irina Abysova of Russia to win in a time of 2:00:48.

A small lead group of nine formed in the 1500m swim and they would stay away on the bike, opening up a 50 second lead over the dangerous runners such as Australia's Beijing Olympian Erin Densham and Yuliya Sapunova from the Ukraine. Hard work from Great Britain's Vanessa Raw and Vicky Holland opened up the advantage over 40km of cycling which set up the race for the leaders.

Abysova was the first to make her move, accelerating out of transition and into the lead. McIlroy bided her time and made contact with 5km of running to go, sticking to the Russian before surging away in the final kilometre. Further back it was the Australian pairing of Felicity Sheedy-Ryan and Densham who ran through for third and fourth with Sapunova in fifth. Zita Szabo from Hungary delighted the home crowd with sixth.

"I had a pretty good swim and then chased down the front two early on the bike, but once we got there we all worked well," said McIlroy who switched sports following an Achilles tendon injury. "I was a little bit worried that I had worked too hard on the bike but I slowly eased into my running and eventually, despite the heat, managed to open up a gap and get away. I felt pretty good, I'm very happy. I'm heading to London next weekend for the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series before going back to New Zealand to prepare for the Grand Final on the Gold Coast in Australia."

Abysova commented: "It was a good race because I had a great swim and a great bike and then enjoyed a super run. I was just thinking 'faster, faster, faster', but Kate [McIlroy] had too much."

"This year has been really fantastic for me," said Sheedy-Ryan. "I struggled with a few injuries in the early season but the hard work is paying off. To run through Erin [Densham] was very pleasing as she's an athlete I respect a lot. I was pretty disappointed with the swim today, I'm struggling with the big packs in the water, but the bike worked well and I was lucky that I could chase down some people on the run."

Top three at the Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup (Photo: Janos Schmidt / triathlon.org)

Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup, Hungary

1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run

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