Africa Triathlon

Chrissie Wellington of Great Britain and Julien Loy of France won today’s ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in Almere, Netherlands.  For Ironman star Wellington, it was her first elite ITU world title.  She cruised to victory with a dominating performance.  Czech Lucie Zelenkova was first out of the water after the gruelling 4-kilometer swim.  She was followed by Denmark’s Charlotte Kolters and then Wellington a further two minutes down.  But it was on the bike that Wellington began to take command.  She rode more than six minutes faster than any other woman.  She followed that up with the fastest 30-kilometer run split of the field to coast to the finish line.  Kolters took the silver while Dutch long distance star and home favourite Yvonne van Vlerken delighted the crowds with the bronze.

2008 Almere ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships - Elite Women Results
4km swim – 120 km bike – 30km run
Gold – Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 06:12:44
Silver – Charlotte Kolters (DEN) 06:30:15
Bronze – Yvonne van Vlerken (NED) 06:31:56
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In the men’s field, Loy successfully defended his title, becoming just the third man to win back-to-back long distance triathlon world championships.  The French men nearly duplicated last year’s feat of sweeping the podium at home in Lorient.  Francois Chabaud made it a gold-silver day for the French but the sweep was thwarted by Martin Jensen of Denmark.

Jensen was first out of the water and was followed closely by Stephan Bignet of France.  Loy was ninth after the swim but only 17 seconds back as the lead group exited the water closely bunched together.  Jensen posted the fastest 120-kilometer bike of the men’s field and looked to maintain the lead through the run.  But Loy came back strong in the run and fought hard to retain his world title.  The Frenchman blitzed the 30-kilometer run course, faster than any other man by more than two minutes to claim his second straight ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship.  Chabaud ran the second fastest to take the silver.  More than nine minutes slower than Loy on the run, Jensen faded but held on for the bronze, well ahead of another Frenchman Sebastien Berlier.

2008 Almere ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships - Elite Men Results
4km swim – 120 km bike – 30km run
Gold – Julien Loy (FRA) 05:43:22
Silver – Francois Chabaud (FRA) 05:45:36
Bronze – Martin Jensen (DEN) 05:46:59
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An elated Wellington is crowned ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Champion

Savouring victory at the finish line