Comerford & Sindballe Long Distance Champs

Sunday, 19th November 2006

As balloons rose over Lake Burley Griffin the 2006 LD Triathlon World Championships began with over 630 athletes powering into, what for some, would be a long day in the sun. Four kilometers later on a two lap course that took them past Parliament House to the Kings Ave Bridge, the leaders emerged with Kieran Doe (NZL) leading fellow New Zealander's Stephan Sheldrake and Nathan Richmond around the 50 minute mark.  First Australian out was Nick Hornman.

The ladies race leader, Linda Gallo (USA) took 55 minutes and emerged in a pack of men about 3 minutes ahead of Johanna Daumas (FRA) and Manuela Ianesi (ITA). Australian's Amelia Cox and Belinda Halloran were 6th and 7th on the transition to the 120km bike stage. Aussie Lachlan Lewis was last out of the water waving to the cheers of the crowd.

The bike course was the stage for several changes in position within all the categories as the four lap course took in Parliament Hill, the lake and wound its way towards Coppins Crossing. The climb back out of Coppins had people racing up on the first lap, then slowing, then even slower. Then by lap four, the wind came up making it harder for everyone, particularly the age groupers, some of whom were on their first lap. Kieran Doe, who had led Torbjorn Sindballe (DEN) by over one minute, found Sindballe was only two seconds behind him as he finished the first lap. Sheldrake and Richmond were involved in their own duel with a large pack, including Craig Alexander (AUS) over three minutes behind the leaders. Over with the women, Gallo still had over 2 minutes on Daumas, with Melissa Ashton (AUS), Bella Comerford (GBR) and Amelia Cox (AUS) rounding out the top five. Lap two found the men still locked in their positions while Daumas took over the lead from Gallo moving out to a two minute lead. Sara Gross (GBR) moved in to the top five and Edith Niederfriniger (ITA) entered the top ten.

Major movement in lap three saw Sindballe move into the lead by over 50 seconds to Doe, with then over eight minutes to the rest of the field. The women were still chasing Daumas who now had Melissa Ashton just less than two minutes behind and Comerford, over three minutes off the pace. Coming into the transition to the run stage Sinballe had almost six minutes over Doe and eleven to Richmond. Alexander moved into 6th just over 12 minutes behind the leader. Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) transitioned in 11th place looking to make up over 16 minutes to reach the leader. Daumas extended her lead to three and a half minutes over Ashton, Comerford, Martina Dogana (ITA) and Niederfriniger who was now 5th over 7 minutes back.

With just 30k to go on the welcome flat three lap run of the southern edge of the lake it meant that there was still time left for major movements in the field to crown the 2006 World Champion. As the runners passed and re-passed the main race area, the spectators could easily follow the changes. Sindballe lost 2 minutes to Alexander on the first lap, and a further 4 to him on the second lap. It was shaping up to be a close finish with the possibility of an Australian World Champion. Melissa Ashton dropped out at the 10k mark with Comerford taking over second. As the laps wore on in the heat moving to 34C, Daumas surrendered her lead to Comerford, and then second place to Niedergriniger. Marino Vanhoenacker moved through the field each lap, steadily climbing the leader board as Sindballe held on to the lead.

The roar of the crowd alerted those at the finish that the new world champion was about to cross the line as Sindballe entered the finish chute in a time of 5:59:13. As his finishers medal was placed over his head, a Danish flag flew from the crowd to crown his achievement. Craig Alexander (6:00:35) held onto his second place, despite cramping in the last kilometers which caused him to stop every kilometer to stretch. Third was Marino Vanhoenacker from Belgium (6:02:22) a further three minutes behind the winner. Julien Loy, 6:02:46, (FRA) and Nathan Richmond, 6:04:54, (NZL) rounded out the top five.

Bella Comerford (GBR) was crowned the LD Triathlon World Champion as she finished in a time of 6:55:32 ahead of Edith Niederfriniger, 6:57:17, (ITA) and the early leader Johanna Daumas, 7:00:50, (FRA). The effort of the race clearly showed in Bella's face as she grasped the finish tape in jubilation. Erika Csomor, 7:05:13 (HUN), the sole Hungarian entrant, was fourth with Martina Dogana (ITA) coming in fifth in a time of 7:05:37.

2006 ITU Canberra Long Distance Triathlon World Championships