Olympic Favourites Show Their Form in Ishigaki World Cup
Sunday, 13th April 2008
Emma Snowsill of Australia and Simon Whitfield of Canada added to their extensive medal count today with wins at the Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup. Both athletes showed their Olympic colours with top-form races unfolding from two of the sport's superstars. 
Snowsill led from start to finish claiming her eighth world cup title in a time of 2 hours 3 minutes and 11 seconds. In second place, 29 seconds behind, was fellow Aussie and Olympic hopeful Erin Densham. A further 1 minute 45 seconds back in third was young Hollie Avil of Great Britain in her world cup debut, nipping home crowd favourite Juri Ide of Japan in an exciting sprint finish. In fifth position was Canadian Kathy Trembley.
"I just wanted to get out there and get a second hit out," said Snowsill after her win. "I felt like I had a bit more of a plateau, not so many ups and downs. I'm really happy, 2 for 2 what more can I ask for at this stage."
Right from the starter's horn, Snowsill quickly moved to the lead of the 41 women field stringing out a long line of athletes. The only women able to keep up to her were the British swimming trio of Helen Tucker, Jodie Swallow and Kerry Lang. These four would lead the entire swim while the remaining women battled it out behind. Another Aussie Olympic hopeful Felicity Abram, was caught amongst the white water of the chasers and would withdraw from the race early in the bike portion due to stomach ailments.
This lead group of four would be joined by four more at the start of the 40-kilometre hilly bike leg. This small break away was quickly caught however by a Nicola Spirig-led chase group of ten. The Swiss powerhouse single-handily reeled in the leaders by the end of the first lap, pulling eventual medalists Densham and Avil to within striking distance. This group would efficiently conquer the 14 hills on the course, increasing the lead to over two minutes between them and the chase group, containing pre race favourites, Debbie Tanner of New Zealand and Anja Dittmer of Germany, by the second transition.
In her usual style, Snowsill would struggle through second transition to fall almost ten seconds behind, but blasted to the front in the first 500 metres and would never look back with a blistering 33:23 final 10-kilometre run split to grab top spot and her 16th career podium. Densham dug deep to pull within 30 seconds of Snowsill, at the finish to persuade Australian Olympic selectors after a slow start to the season. Densham is one of four top Australian women fighting for two remaining Olympic spots.
"It's about bloody time," said Densham after an unusually slow start to the 2008 season. "I knew it was always there. I came here with nothing to lose. It's up to the Olympic selectors now, they know what there doing. Coming second to Snowy [Snowsill] is like winning so I'm happy."
After battling over the final five kilometres 18-year old and reigning World Junior Champion Avil managed to nip Japan's Ide at the line for a bronze medal in her first world cup.
In the men's event, the veteran Whitfield showed a field of top Olympians that he still has kick in his legs to claim his 11th world cup title, in a time of 1 hour 51 minutes and 12 seconds. Close behind in second was 2007 big prize money winner Rasmus Henning of Denmark, 10 seconds back. Rounding out the podium was Russia's Ivan Vasiliev another 11 seconds back, who just managed to outlast a charging Peter Robertson of Australia. In fifth was Britain's Tim Don, who also ran back from over a minute deficit after the bike to finish in the top 5.
"That was good, a great way to start the year. I've been coming here for 12 years and never been close to the podium," said Whitfield after his win, which ties him for second all-time world cup wins with Kiwi and fellow Olympic gold medalist Hamish Carter. "When I was running along I was thinking 'Come on, this might be my last time here so I have to win this thing'. It's my first win in Japan so it's a thrill, never done that."
As temperatures rose to almost 30 degrees Celsius with 100% humidity, 44 men dived into the warm coastal waters of Ishigaki Harbour for the non-wetsuit swim. It was not until the second of the two-lap swim before a definite break was visible in the long line of starters with local favourite Hirokatsu Tayama of Japan leading the way. Despite a slow first lap Whitfield managed to finish strong, moving into the front group for the start of the hilly bike segment.
Just as in the women's race earlier, the efficient lead group continued to put time on their chasers throughout the 40-kilometre bike course, coming into second transition over a minute ahead of top contenders Robertson and Don.
Immediately moving the front of the hill-ridden run course was Whitfield, followed closely by Henning and Vasiliev. Vasiliev was the first to fall off the leader's pace at the 5-kilometre mark leaving the two world cup veterans. On the final downhill Whitfield would open up to drop Henning and run solo to the finish. Both Robertson and Don made a bid for the podium over the 10-kilometre run, coming within 6 seconds of a top-3. But neither had a chance at catching Whitfield as he made his first world cup win of 2008 look easy with a 31:43 run split.
With the strong performances so far in 2008 the Australian and Russian men have pulled ahead of Switzerland for the final spot to qualify three athletes for the Beijing Olympics. Olympic qualification ends on June 8th at the Vancouver BG Triathlon World Championships.
2008 Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup
Elite Women - Unofficial Results
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Gold Emma Snowsill (AUS) 2:03:11
Silver Erin Densham (AUS) 2:03:40 +:29
Bronze Hollie Avil (GBR) 2:05:25 +2:14
Official full field results are available here
2008 Ishigaki BG Triathlon World Cup
Elite Men - Unofficial Results
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Gold Simon Whitfield (CAN) 1:51:12
Silver Rasmus Henning (DEN) 1:51:22 +:10
Bronze Ivan Vasiliev (RUS) 1:51:33 +:21
Official full field results are available here
Source: Press Release
More info: www.triathlon.org
Photos: Simon Grimmett/triathlon.org