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Gomez and Verstuyft win Challenge Prague titles

Five-time ITU World Champion and the twice (and reigning) IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, proved his class on Saturday by winning Challenge Prague. Another podium too for Great Britain's Laura Siddall
Chief Correspondent
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Another podium for Laura Siddall in the Czech Republic

Sixth for Kimberley Morrison on a borrowed bike

Saturday’s Challenge Prague saw a clash of world champions in the Pro men’s race, with reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Javier Gomez facing his compatriot, and recent ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship winner, Pablo Dapena Gonzalez.

Dapena Gonzalez has been in fine form this year and racing many of the Challenge Family races and he, along with Pieter Heemeryck (BEL) were separated by just seconds after the swim and bike. All change from there, as Gomez (1:13:48) coped with the hot conditions on the run to take a six minute victory over Dapena (1:19:54 half marathon).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlyBdjYAC76/

There were pre-race challenges for GB’s Kim Morrison, who’s bike didn’t arrive in time for the race, but was able to start on a borrowed bike. She didn’t let that stop her manage to gain a small lead by T2, but in a close race, she had several chasers within a few minutes.

Katrien Verstuyft (BEL) – winner of 70.3 Weymouth last year – would come out on top, her 1:28:20 run in the hot conditions the fifth fastest of the day, with the quickest run (1:25:27) coming from Kirsty Jahn (CAN), which enabled her to pass Challenge Family Ambassador on super-consistent Brit, Laura Siddall (1:27:11), who added more points to her 2018 Challenge Family Series rankings.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlzlyMIguoM/

Challenge Prague – Saturday 28th July 2018
1.9km / 90km / 21km

PRO Men

1st – Javier Gomez (ESP) – 3:44:40
2nd – Pablo Dapena Gonzalez (ESP) – 3:50:53
3rd – Pieter Heemeryck (BEL) – 3:51:55

9th – George Goodwin (GBR) – 4:04:15

PRO Women

1st – Katrien Verstuyft (BEL) – 4:21:30
2nd – Kirsty Jahn (CAN) – 4:22:03
3rd – Laura Siddall (GBR) – 4:22:21


6th – Kimberley Morrison (GBR) – 4:25:49
8th – Chantal Cummings (GBR) – 4:29:13

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
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