It was a great start to the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series for Kiwi veteran Bevan Docherty, who was victorious in Sydney, winning with a breakaway on the final lap of the run. Docherty won with a time of 1:51:27. It’s the second year in a row that Docherty has kicked off the world championship season with a win.

“It was a real tough course today,” Docherty said. “It was much harder than I expected, but I felt good heading into the final lap and was able to make a break. Winning in front of the Sydney Opera House is amazing.”

Behind Docherty was a pair of surprise podium finishers. Russia’s Alexander Brukhankov finished six seconds back of the Kiwi, barely holding off France’s David Hauss, who finished third, one second behind the Russian.

Fifty-seven men took to the water’s of Farm Cove in beautiful Sydney Harbour to officially kick off the 2010 World Championship Season. Russia’s Alexander Brukhankov and Frenchman Frederic Belaubre immediately moved to the front, but were unable to make a break on the first 750-metre lap. The pack started to string out on the second loop, with the Russian men charging to the front. Russia’s Dmitry Polyansky led out of the swim, with a big group of almost 50 athletes exiting just behind.

Onto the first of eight laps on the bike, Aussie youngster James Seear, who finished third at the Mooloolaba World Cup two weeks ago, took over the leading role at the start of the hilly ride, with Docherty right on his wheel. Aussie Greg Bennett assumed the role of leading the chasers and kept the peloton within 10 seconds of the leaders throughout the first two laps.

At the halfway point of the ride, Belgium’s Peter Croes took charge of the race, with Russia’s Anton Chuchko and Spanish super-biker Ivan Rana on his wheel. Frenchman Laurent Vidal lead the group of big hitters, only eight seconds behind. Riding with Vidal were 2008 Olympic champion Jan Frodeno of Germany, Hunter Kemper of the United States and Docherty.

Heading into the bell lap, Kemper and Chuchko worked together to make a break on the pack and started the final climb up Macquarie Street with a 35-second advantage on the pack. After a quick transition, Kemper headed out onto the four-lap run course in the lead, with Chuchko only seven seconds behind. Next into transition were France’s Tony Moulai and American Matt Chrabot, both 20 seconds back of Kemper. The big group made their way into T2 almost a minute behind Kemper, led by Docherty and countryman Kris Gemmell.

The pair of Americans began to pull away on the second lap of the run, building a 30-second lead but they weren’t able to hold off the hard charge from Docherty, who led a group of five chasers. The Kiwi made up half of that deficit on the third lap of the run, closing to within just 15 seconds. Running alongside Docherty were Brukhankov, Polyansky, Hauss and 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medallist Simon Whitfield of Canada.

Docherty, Brukhankov and Hauss caught the pair of leaders as they headed up the final hill on the bell lap, and there was little doubt that Docherty was running the strongest of the group. Docherty stretched his lead throughout the final kilometre, holding off the charge from Brukhankov and Hauss behind. Docherty broke the tape in 1:51:27, pumping his first as he sprinted down the finishing chute.

“I always enjoy the sprint finishes, but it was nice to have a little room to be able to celebrate the win a bit,” Docherty said at the finish.

Article: triathlon.org  BLK1 Photographer: www.petersollner.com

Article: © traithlong 2010. All rights reserved.

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Atkinson vs. Gomez at the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship.

Australian veteran Courtney Atkinson held off reigning world champion Javier Gomez to win silver in the second race of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series in Madrid, but the day belonged to Great Britain youngster Alistair Brownlee.

A blistering opening to his 10km run set up a maiden World Cup victory for Brownlee, following a top five finish in the swim and a number of attacking raids on the bike. His stunning performance left Atkinson with the task of outsprinting Gomez in front of his home crowd and the Queenslander pulled away over the final 500 metres to take second place.

“I’m ecstatic with that – it was an awesome race,” said Atkinson. “When I’m fresh, I know I’ve got a good kick, so I thought I would just try and sit on Javier and see how I could go at the finish. I didn’t want to get into a dual with him over a long period because he’s such a solid runner and been one of the best in the world for such a long time. I’m not sure where he’s at in terms of his fitness at the moment, but I’m pretty happy with a silver medal.”

Atkinson exited the water aggressively to ensure he was among the leaders as they began the climb at the start of the 40km bike ride. The challenging course and solid pace meant some contenders dropped off over the opening laps, leaving 11 athletes, including Atkinson and up-and-coming Queenslander James Seear, together with four Russians, Gomez and Brownlee with a break on the field.

Cycling takes place at the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship

A large chase pack which included fellow Aussie Brad Kahlefeldt and Olympic gold medallist Jan Frodeno failed to make any significant inroads, consigning that group to a deficit of a minute and a half as they began the run.

The medal ceremony at the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship.

Kahlefeldt, who claimed silver in a photo finish in the series opener in Tongyeong, South Korea, was just unable to tag onto the back of the lead pack at the start of the bike leg, in what proved a crucial blow to his chances. He made up significant ground over the final stages to finish ninth, while Seear was passed by Frodeno with 50 metres to go to finish just outside the top 10.

Triple world champion Peter Robertson had a poor swim, emerging a minute behind the leaders and pulled out of the race towards the halfway stage of the bike leg. Victoria’s Gareth Halverson finished 22nd.
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Annabelle Luxford, Female winner, 2009 Australian Elite Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships

Brisbane’s Annabel Luxford launched her triathlon career comeback campaign
in style today, winning the Australian Triathlon Sprint Championships at
Hobart’s dockside today.

The former ITU world number one, led the race from start to finish, to take
the sprint crown in 1h3m41s. Trailing her by a fair margin was Barbara
Riveros-Diaz from Chile who crossed the line in 1h4m35s and third was
Brisbane’s Sarah Cowley (1hr 5m40s).

It was a rewarding win for Luxford whose career has been hampered by injury
and has seen her spend the last year sidelined with a stress fracture to her
foot. Back training under Shaun Stephens, the 26 year old looked
particularly strong today in the swim and bike, and was thrilled with the
victory.

Annabelle Luxford, Female winner, 2009 Australian Elite Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships

Luxford’s glory year was 2005 when she was world number one and took a
silver in the world championships, but 2006 to 2008 have been lean years
with a 5th at the Commonwealth Games and the disappointment of injury
damming her Beijing ambitions. The law student is hoping today’s victory
kicks off her journey to the 2012 Olympics.

“I had no idea how I would go before the race. I am glad to be back and to
win an Australian title, is always extra special,” said Luxford.

“I was a little nervous, all these young kids are here, and I thought a
little intimidated,” said Luxford whose domination of the race where she won
by nearly a minute, showed she had no need for concern.

The next major races on the Australian triathlon race calendar are the
Oceania / Luke Harrop Memorial Championship on the Gold Coast on March 1 (to
be run on the course to be used for the world championships in September ) ,
followed by Australian Triathlon Championships for the longer Olympic
distance in Perth on March 15.

RESULTS:

Australian Triathlon Sprint Championships WOMENS Hobart – Sunday February 15 2009:

1. Annabel Luxford (Brisbane – QLD)
1h 3m41s

2. Barbara Riveros-Diaz (Chile)
1h4m35s

3. Sarah Crowely (Brisbane – QLD)
1h5m40s

BLK1 Article: TRIATHLON AUSTRALIA BLK1 Photographer: DELLY CARR

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Courtney Atkinson, Male winner, 2009 Australian Elite Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships

Defending champion, the Gold Coast’s Courtney Atkinson, has once again won
the Australian Triathlon Sprint Championships beating home rival Brisbane’s
Dan Wilson in a stunning sprint to the line in Hobart this afternoon.

In amazing finish, it was an exact repeat of the 2008 championship final,
right down to the time margin split of a mere second. As they pushed each
other to victory, Atkinson broke the tape in 55m30s with the 23 year old
Wilson a hair’s breadth behind in 55m31s. Teenager, 19 year old Josh
Amberger from Brisbane, who led the national field of 19 men out of the
opening 750m swim leg, finished 3rd.

The 20km bike leg saw a pack of nine tick off with precision the eight lap
course, from Hobart’s dockside to Battery Point, before entering transition,
when the real race began.

The experienced Atkinson darted from transition but Wilson was determined
not to let him go, and shot out behind him. The two ran neck at neck at 3
minute run pace over the 5km city street leg, racing for the last kilometre
as if they were in a final sprint. Despite surges from the two to try and
breakaway, the race came down the final 50 metres, when Atkinson in a final
lunge secured victory.

It was Atkinson’s fourth national sprint title and for the Beijing Olympian,
the win kicked off his 2009 campaign in style. But it was a race for
Atkinson to even get to the start line. His flight from the Gold Coast was
cancelled last night, and the Gold Coaster took a Sunday morning plane that
saw him land in Hobart just two hours before the race and at the race
precint, 10 minutes before the start gun.

Courtney Atkinson, Male winner, 2009 Australian Elite Sprint Distance Triathlon Championship

“I loved that today,” said an elated Atkinson after the win. “I loved the
pace of the race and the battle with Dan. It was worth coming here for
that, and in fact it was very worthwhile for me to have to race at such pace
and with such intensity.

“It is very very early in the season for me and I have only been training
for about a month. It was a lot of hard work, the pace was on and it was
probably a bit above what I am doing, but it was a good start.

“You know, there’s always a little doubt in your mind, and with a hundred
metres today, there was a big doubt!!

“But the years of experience, the hard racing, got me home. I like being in
those situations, but Dan should be proud of himself, he’s improved a lot .”

For Wilson, it was a disappointment to come in 2nd again, but rewarding to
know he was keeping pace with the world class Atkinson.

“It was close again, another really exciting finish, but he (Atkinson)
didn’t flinch,” said Wilson.

“I was so close, but so far. You know I think it would have been easier to
lose by 30 seconds, but that is racing.”

RESULTS:
Australian Triathlon Sprint Championship – MENS Hobart – Sunday February 15 2009:
1. Courtney Atkinson (Gold Coast – QLD)
55m 30 s
2. Daniel Wilson (Brisbane – QLD)
55m 31s
3. Josh Amberger (Brisbane – QLD)
56m 09s

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