Search
shop

Miami heat can’t stop Ashleigh Gentle as her luck changes at last

At last a change of luck for the Aussie star
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

It was little wonder that Ashleigh Gentle reflected on a change of fortune after her terrific win at CLASH Miami on Friday.

“I’ve been a bit unlucky lately so I feel that maybe lady luck was on my side a bit today!” said the Aussie after grabbing top step on the podium in baking temperatures in Florida.

She was ruled out of the $100,000 Couples Championship through no fault of her own last weekend, but bounced back in style here with a dominant display at a dramatic CLASH Miami on Friday.

She shattered the course record on a day of drama which saw Sara Perez Sala crash out when leading on the bike, while Emma Pallant-Browne and Chelsea Sodaro were both forced out on the run by heat exhaustion issues as the temperatures climbed above 30 degrees.

Gentle though looked smooth throughout, and crossed the line more than eight minutes to the good.

Advertisement

‘Brutal conditions’

Afterwards she told Greg Bennett on the CLASH Endurance broadcast: “The race plan was to just focus on myself. Staying aero through the corners on the bike and then on the run it was about survival in pretty brutal conditions.”

Ashleigh has switched to SCOTT bikes and was riding the Plasma 6 TT for the first time in a race here. “I absolutely love it and felt very comfortable on it,” she said.

As for the conditions, they were tough for all the competitors – Gentle included.

“They were definitely some of the hardest conditions I’ve raced in. We started the run at around midday and the sun was just so hot. We were all trying to encourage each other though which was super-nice and kept the morale up but I hope the girls are all okay.”

Cone clash

Thankfully there was good news on Spain’s Sara Perez Sala, who saw some cones too late midway through the bike and suffered a heavy crash.

Sara Perez Sala
Spain’s Sara Perez Sala’s race came to an unfortunate end

She was taken to the on course medical centre with bad road rash but emerged bandaged up a little later and told Bennett: “I’m sad but I’m happy that I haven’t broken anything, which is the most important thing.

“I was feeling good and couldn’t believe it when I crashed. I wanted to come back into the race but couldn’t.”

Another casualty on the bike was Dede Griesbauer, who had a flat tyre midway through the bike section.

She explained: “I went round a corner and flatted. I went to change the tyre and was fully intending to get back out there but blew out the sidewall and that was that. I’m just very disappointed.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
The PTO's CEO Sam Renouf
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...