Learmonth and Hall on top of the podium again
The 2017 season has barely broken sweat – and already the dynamic duo of training partners Jessica Learmonth and Lucy Hall have produced their second Gold / Silver finish in international competition, this time in Gran Canaria.
In early February the ITU World Cup in Cape Town was ‘Hall-Monthed’ (!) as their “catch me if you can” style of swim-bike domination was too much for the rest of the field, resulting in a sprint finish in which Lucy took the honours.
Sunday saw the start of the ETU triathlon season with the Gran Canaria ETU Triathlon European Cup in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, and this time around it was Jessica who took top spot.
Tough day out at #ETUlaspalmas. Delighted to take the win. Well done to all that raced. @blueseventy @kuotauk @OTESportsGB pic.twitter.com/qfs5PHISIz
— Jess Learmonth (@Jess_Learmonth) March 26, 2017
Racing over the Olympic Distance, Learmonth and Hall – as always it seems – headed the field out of the 1.5km swim – and a group of nine athletes would separate themselves from the field. Learmonth was able to get away on her own during the ride to reach T2 with a narrow 37 second lead over the group with also included, in her first Olympic Distance race, the young British athlete, Sian Rainsley.
Proving – as we have seen frequently now – that neither Learmonth or Hall are “swim, bike, hope”, Jessica actually produced the fastest run of the day too. to complete the swim / bike / run domination and earn victory by almost two minutes. Lucy was the strongest of that small chase group to take the Silver.
1st @ETUtriathlon of the year. Chuffed to be on the podium with @Jess_Learmonth again 😊. 7th for @Sian_Rainsley in her 1st Olympic too 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/VPk9PEYXp8
— Lucy Hall (@Lucy_Tri) March 26, 2017
Rainsley held strong for seventh, with Fenella Langridge finished 15th.
The mens race was won by European Games Bronze medallist, Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE), the Brits headed by Gordon Benson (7th), Douglas Roberts (11th), James Teagle (18th), Jack Willis (26th) and Jimmy Kershaw (32nd).
RESULTS – (FULL RESULTS)
Women
1st – Jessica Learmonth (GBR) – 2:01:29
2nd – Lucy Hall (GBR) – 2:03:25
3rd – Carmen Gomez Cortes (ESP) – 2:04:15
Men
1st – Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE) – 1:50:42
2nd – Adrien Briffod (SUI) – 1:50:59
3rd – Uxio Abuin Area (ESP) – 1:51:39