(International) Weekend Roundup: 13-14 April 2019

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Powerman Alsdorf 2019 / weekend roundup / Alice Hector
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What went on around the world? The International Weekend Roundup

Peru, Australia, Germany, China and Mallorca all feature this week. Check out who raced, and who won what, here…

IRONMAN 70.3 Peru

Lima, Peru served as the just the warm-up for Lucy Gossage ahead of an adventure cycling trip around the country which will see her riding something a little different to a TT bike with disc wheel and aerobars over the coming days. While ‘not racing seriously’ these days – apparently – she still took fourth place, with Lauren Goss (USA) dominating the race, leading out of the water, leading off of the bike and then setting the fastest run split by some considerable margin to win by almost nine minutes.

Lucy put in a solid swim (28:41) in her weakest discipline, reached T2 in 4th/5th/6th with Amanda Wendorff (USA) and Brittany Higgins (USA), before running a 1:26:14 half marathon to finish in a clear fourth place, just over a minute shy of the final podium slot. Reading her post-race comments (below), you get the feeling that her fun adventures in Peru will likely be starting today, with seeking out new places on her touring bike the primary reason for her trip. Enjoy!

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Overall a fun hit out at Ironman 70.3 Perú today. I finished 4th which is probably better than I deserved. I really enjoyed the swim and run. I was kind of laughing at the fact that I’d thrown myself into this before the start. I will always love racing. The bike was less fun. Partly because I’m not fit enough to ride hard – you can’t expect to ride fast without training fast and it’s less fun being in a race stuck in third gear. I like to smash the bike but today, unsurprisingly, I couldn’t. But I was also getting increasingly frustrated by some shameless drafting both behind me and ahead of me. I feel like I’ve been around long enough to say it as it is. And I really think it’s unacceptable for people to be able to actively cheat for 2 hours on the bike. Ironman need to give women more than 5 mins to age group men and need to penalise cheaters. Otherwise racing on courses like this is pointless. It’s sad that it is only now, when I’m not racing seriously, that I have the guts to say what I think. Congratulations to Lauren Goss who had an amazing race. And thanks to Sarah Piampiano for the support after she pulled out with a nasty bike mechanical.

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Winner in 2017 and second last year, Andy Potts (USA) looked in a good position to return to the top of the podium when he arrived at T2 alongside Marcus Herbst (GER), more than two and a half minutes clear of Vicente Hernandez (ESP), who we are more used to seeing on the ITU World Triathlon Series. However, the Spanish athlete – who does have previous success over the distance, winning Challenge Forte Village in 2017 –  ran a swift 1:13:53 to take the lead in the second half of the run and pull away for a clear win, leaving Potts in second again.

IRONMAN 70.3 Peru, Lima – Sunday 14th April 2019
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO WOMEN

1st – Lauren Goss (USA) – 4:05:56
2nd – Kinsey Laine (USA) – 4:14:57
3rd – Cecilia Davis-Haynes (USA) – 4:15:44
4th – Lucy Gossage (GBR) – 4:16:50

PRO MEN

1st – Vicente Hernandez (ESP) – 3:43:40
2nd – Andy Potts (USA) – 3:45:24
3rd – Kevin Collington (USA) – 3:46:59

IRONMAN 70.3 Liuzhou, China

This was the race that Alistair Brownlee won 12 months ago, on his route back from the Commonwealth Games in Australia. No Alistair this year, but just a couple of months shy of his 46th birthday, three-time IRONMAN World Champion, Craig Alexander stepped up one place for a Chinese takeaway win.

Six athletes; Sam Betten (AUS), Per Bittner (GER), Ivan Kalashnikov (RUS), Paul Schuster (GER, Daniil Sapunov (UKR) and Alexander all reached T2 within seconds of each other, and while Betten was first onto the run, Alexander had caught him a couple of miles later and a 1:13:08 half marathon saw him take the win by almost two minutes from Kalashnikov, with Schuster completing the podium.

With no Imogen Simmonds (SUI) present, a repeat of the 2018 sprint finish with Poland’s Agnieszka Jerzyk wasn’t going to happen, in a field of just four Pro women. Jerzyk had Kelsey Withrow (USA) for company during the first third of the bike, but 2:40 up at T2, she extended that to almost nine minutes at the finish for a repeat victory in Liuzhou.

IRONMAN 70.3 Liuzhou, China- Saturday 13th April 2019
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO MEN

1st – Craig Alexander (AUS) – 3:48:50
2nd – Ivan Kalashnikov (RUS) – 3:50:41
3rd – Paul Schuster (GER) – 3:51:08

PRO WOMEN

1st – Agnieszka Jerzyk (POL) – 4:!5:41
2nd – Kelsey Withrow (USA) – 4:24:31
3rd – Laura Dennis (AUS) – 4:29:56

Powerman Alsdorf, Germany

There was British interest over in Germany at the 10km / 60km / 10km run-bike-run format of Powerman Alsdorf.

Ahead of the ETU Powerman European Middle Distance Duathlon Championships in Denmark next month where she will be racing in the GB Elite team, Alice Hector took third place in Germany. It was pretty cold in Alsdorf by all reports (and clothing options!), and Alice took third in the Elite race.

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Delighted with 3rd today at @powerman.alsdorf, also incorporating the German champs. It was a bit of an experiment being my first time at the format and apparently this event had the strongest girls ever assembled over middle distance 😱 Splits for the 10km run/60km bike/10km run were 36.31, 1.38, 37.11. Run legs are strong; just lacking a bit of speed, and I did my best powers on the bike but still lost nearly 6 mins to the machines that are top duathletes! I will try and work on that before the Europeans in a few weeks 🙂 . . . Freezing cold and snowing (hence the attire) but loved the format: not enough time to get bored on the bike and the 10k runs whizzed by quite merrily, so it wasn’t the mental battle I’m used to over 70.3 or dreaded full distance Ironman. It was absolutely flawlessly organised; the athletes were most definitely put first. Thank you @powerman_duathlon. Highly recommended. Bring on the next one. . . . Well dones to @laurizim and @katharinagrohmann_triathlete for 1 and 2. . . . 📸 @thatcameraman. @drummondclinic @bolle_eyewear @currex_your_next_level @sundried @evotriclub @vintage_vdb @team_pedalsure #togetherweboostduathlon #duathlon #powerman #powermanalsdorf

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The event was also the German Championships, but a few GB & Ireland Age-Group athletes did race with some success, including Gill Fullen (winner of F55-59) and Seanin Gillmore (winner of F45-49).

ELITE WOMEN

1st – Laura Zimmermann (GER) – 2:50:05
2nd – Katharina Grohmann (GER) – 2:52:05
3rd – Alice Hector (GBR) – 2:53:56

ELITE MEN

1st – Daan de Groot (NED) – 2:30:20
2nd – Jan Petralia (BEL) – 2:31:38
3rd – Sascha Hubbert (GER) – 2:32:53

Powerman Alsdorf 2019 - Elite Men

Triathlon Portocolom, Mallorca

The 1km / 100km / 10km format of Triathlon Portocolom in Mallorca represented the first event in the new Sprit Triathlon Series, a race which includes two ascents of the San Salvador climb. The winning run over the last four years from Michael Van Cleven (BEL) ended after he crashed out midway through the bike leg, which saw Italian former Pro cyclist, Domenico Passuello break away with Manuel KÜng (SUI). With the Swiss athlete soon out of the race on the run with injury, Passuello ran strongly and would not be caught over the closing 10km.

In a similar fashion, Switzerland’s Emma Bilham escaped on the bike, built a good lead by T2 and was not threatened on the run. Nina Derron made it a Swiss one-two, while Chantal Cummings (who recently won in Ayia Napa), was the top British finisher in the race, completing the women’s Elite podium.

ELITE WOMEN

1st – Emma Bilham (SUI) – 4:04:00
2nd – Nina Derron (SUI) – 4:07:48
3rd – Chantal Cummings (GBR) – 4:09:17

Triathlon Portocolom 2019 - Emma Bilham
Photo: Rafa Babot / Triathlon de Portocolom

6th – Caroline Livesey (GBR) – 4:22:19
8th – Clare Weller (GBR) – 4:24:14
10th – Flora Colledge (GBR) – 4:27:09
12th – Katherine Renouf (GBR) – 4:29:22

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All smiles from me today 😁 I am one of those people you look at in races and wonder “what’s she smiling at?” Well, it’s just because I love it 🤷‍♀️ Today the @kumulusmallorca Portocolom International Triathlon was so much fun and so well organised. The different format (1k, 100k, 10k) makes for interesting racing. The bike takes in San Salvador climb twice so there are some matches burnt and general carnage on the 2nd lap. I felt strong all day, and while the run was a painful affair (only good pain though!!) it was a great starting point for me for the season. 6th place. But won the “most grins caught on camera” award 😁 oh and negative split my bike laps 👏👏 Massive congratulations to @emmabilham who showed her class in a strong field taking the win. So excited for the next race now. @challengegrancanaria in 2 weeks 💪 • 📷 @diana_nature84 👏👏 • #orbeaordu #swimbikerun #raceseason #triathlon #ridefightwin #smile #lovewhatyoudo #mentalstrength #ironman #bike #mallorca #portocolom

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ELITE MEN

1st – Domenico Passuello (ITA) – 3:39:38
2nd – Milosz Zowinski (POL) – 3:41:22
3rd – Markus Hörmann (GER) – 3:44:41

Triathlon Portocolom 2019 - Domenico Passuello
Photo: Rafa Babot / Triathlon de Portocolom

8th – Chris Standidge (GBR) – 3:50:45
16th – Mark Livesey (GBR) – 3:59:11
18th – Robert Drake (GBR) – 4:00:49

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Getting the season under way at the Triathlon Internacional Portocolom in Mallorca. Thoroughly enjoyed the @spirit_tri_series new team set up for the pros and proud to be racing for @trianglesportsteam. @alicjamedak and @rafalmedak looked after us very well so thank you both! For the AG athletes, a race that is about 1/3 the cost of one of the bigger races, but with still the same race experience on a fair & challenging course. We may well be tying in our training camp in 2020 with this race! @orcasportswear @xendurance_eu @precisionhydration @cycleinjuryclaimsuk @rideparcours A couple of days back at home and then back again Thursday for our @totaltritraining camp. #mallorca #portocolom #triathlon #spiritseries

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Challenge Melbourne, Australia

Kiwi Mike Phillips added to success at IRONMAN New Zealand earlier this year by blitzing the run course in Melbourne (1:10:25) to add another win in Australia. The story in the women’s race was quite similar, with another New Zealand athlete, Amelia Watkinson, running away from the 2017 and 2018 champion, Annabel Luxford (AUS), to take the tape first.

PRO MEN

1st – Mike Phillips (NZL) – 3:42:15
2nd – David Mainwaring (AUS) – 3:45:25
3rd – Matt Burton (AUS) – 3:45:57

PRO WOMEN

1st – Amelia Rose Watkinson (NZL) – 4:03:18
2nd – Annabel Luxford (AUS) – 4:06:43
3rd – Radka Kahlefledt (CZE) – 4:08:29

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Pretty happy with that one! It’s been a long stint of patience, so nice to finally crack it. Beach start, loved my choice to don the scull cap, 3rd out of the water on the toes of Bella and Rads. 3 lap subtly undulating cycle leg on my new bike, into T2 with Bella. Tiny lead onto the run course, got my nutrition right and the legs had enough speed to take the Win. Pleasure to be battling it out with a couple of acclaimed stars @brissybella 2nd and @radkakahlefeldt1 3rd. Nice visit to Alex’s home town and to race with a touch of familiarity. Cheers @challengeasiapacific, @challenge_melb and the weather gods for throwing a warnish one. || Photo: @witsupcom #triathlon #triathlete #swimbikerun #halfironman #raceday #challengefamily #challengemelbourne

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