Africa Triathlon

Joelle Franzmann from Germany won gold today at the 2006 Tiszaujvaros BG Triathlon World Cup, her first-ever World Cup victory, in a time of 1:55:41.  Mariana Ohata from Brazil and Leanda Cave from Great Britain finished second and third respectively, with times of 1:55:55 and 1:56:00.  These finishes are no doubt a great confidence builder leading into the 2006 ITU Triathlon World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland in three weeks time.  With Franzmanns win she moves into second place in the BG Triathlon World Cup rankings.

The last four to six weeks my training has not been so good, commented Franzmann.  So I thought I would have to wait until next year [to win a world cup] but now it has happened and it is awesome. 

It was a non-wetsuit swim in the river Tisza with a strong current helping the athletes on the way out but was against them on the way back in.  Many of the swimmers were hugging the shore line where the current was less strong.  To no ones surprise, All-American swimmer Sara McLarty from the United States led the entire swim with only Joelle Franzmann (GER) able to stay with her.  Cave, Ohata, Carol Peon (FRA) and Eva Dollinger (AUT) were the next athletes to exit the water and start the technical six lap bike course.

I was surprised with my swim because [the course] is so different, commented Ohata on the unique river swim. It was a wonderful race and there were so many people cheering all along the course.

Many of the race favourites, including Debbie Tanner (NZL) and Vendula Frintova (CZE), found themselves over 90 seconds down after transition one and were unable to recover. 

Franzmann and McLarty quickly opened their lead to 40 seconds but found themselves losing time over the first two laps.  This prompted Franzmann to wait for the first chase group of Ohata, Cave, Peon, Dollinger and others and leave it to the run.

The gamble worked as this larger group eventually reeled in McLarty and worked together to increase their lead to over two minutes by the end of the bike and Franzmann swiftly moved to the lead again, this time with Ohata.  The two women ran together for almost the entire 4 lap run course until Franzmann made her move with a kilometre left.

Ohata followed in second and Cave managed to beat-out Frances Peon to take the final podium spot, a place she has not been since 2004.  Peon, however, managed a personal best with a fourth place finish.  Eva Dollinger rounded out the top five with her best-ever world cup performance as well.

It came down to a running race and normally running races arent so good for me, stated Cave.  Ive been working really hard on my run and it finally came through.

Click here for the full live timing splits.
Watch the women’s race video highlights now by clicking here.
Click here for official photo gallery.

Look at the Tricast Live! player to recap on all the days action and results.

2006 Tiszaujvaros BG Triathlon World Cup results Elite Women

FRANZMANN, Joelle (GER)                    1:55:41
OHATA, Mariana (BRA)                          1:55:55
CAVE, Leanda (GBR)                             1:56:00
PEON, Carole (FRA)                              1:56:07
DOLLINGER, Eva (AUT)                        1:56:23
TANNER, Debbie (NZL)                          1:56:54
CIERPIK, Camille (FRA)                        1:57:02
DENSHAM, Erin (AUS)                          1:57:41
RYF, Daniela (SUI)                                 1:57:46
MURUA, Ainhoa (ESP)                           1:57:55