Hamburg Triathlon
Javier Gomez gave a tremendous exhibition of stamina, speed, skill and determination to record a win in the Hamburg triathlon, part of the World championship series.
The Spaniard made a sterling comeback to top flight competition recording his first win after recovering from a serious hip injury.
The 2008, world champion was in top form and took the race by the scruff when it mattered the most in the gruelling competition; the former champion sprinted on the last lap to go past Germany’s Jan Frodeno, who was touted as the local favourite before the start of the event.
Despite his defeat the German is on top of the world rankings with 2,153 points with a narrow one point lead over Alexander Brukhankov of Russia, while Brit Tim Don ended up at the third spot in the event.
Gomez recorded a time of 1 hour 43 minutes 7 seconds, which included 29 mins 17 secs for the 10k run.
He is placed at the third spot in the championship with 1,772 points in his kitty.
The reigning World champion Alistair Brownlee, who also hails from Britain did not enter the Hamburg race.
The word is that he was keen on preparing for next weekend’s event in his hometown London, by practicing at the French event also staged this Sunday.
Meanwhile the race started with 67 men, with the early lead being maintained by Russian Denis Vaseline, who was the best swimmer of the day, yet he did not have a decisive lead, as he was closely followed by a group of 32.
Vasiliev was taking the fight to the eventual winner with eight kilometres of cycling left, yet American Mark Fretta did not let him break free keeping a tight reign on him, as the duo sat off on the four-lap run neck to neck.
Gomez broke away to record his win, as he was 20 seconds in front of the others at the five-kilometre, half-way mark.
The Spaniard took over the race when it mattered the most with two kilometres left running away and staying in the lead till the end of the event.
Hamburg Elite Men's Triathlon Results:
1. Javier Gomez SPA 01:43:07
2. Jan Frodeno GER 01:43:23
3. Tim Don GBR 01:43:57
Over on the women’s side of the Hamburg event Sweden's Lisa Norden clinched the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship edging out her rivals in an enthralling race that kept every one on their toes.
Norden recorded the win going past the stiff challenge posed by reigning ITU World Champion Emma Moffatt of Australia.
Norden, who has had a difficult time of late, overcame her problems as she changed the result of last year's event in the German city by edging out Moffatt.
There was some joy for Ireland's Aileen Morrison who performed the best in her career at the race finishing in the third spot.
A total of Sixty six competitors took part in the race which started with the traditional swimming stage that was held at the River Alster.
Moffat and Laura Bennett from the United States were in the hunt of a stage win but failed to carve out a lead for themselves going into the transition and then the 8 laps of cycling.
In lap four of the cycling stage, the eventual winner 4 Norden staked her claim at the race, forming a breakaway group and taking a significant lead of over two minutes.
Moffatt responded sharply taking the lead at the start of the run with a total of 10 other women with her.
The Australian who is also the reigning world champ increased the pace and after 5K, the lead group was reduced to eight including Norden.
At the last stage and only 100 meters left Norden hit the top gear in style pulling a few meters ahead of Moffatt.
She finished the race with a time of 1:53:53, leaving the Australian in the second spot.
HAMBURG RACE RESULT
1. Lisa Norden SWE 01:53:53
2. Emma Moffatt AUS 01:53:53
3. Aileen Morrison IRL 01:53:55
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