Sunday, October 7, 2007
Fernandes Ties Record for Most Successful Triathlete of all Time
RHODES, Greece – The unstoppable Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal added another world cup win to her belt today, her seventh of the season, at the 2007 Rhodes BG Triathlon World Cup in historic Greece . With her win Fernandes has equalled the standing ITU record for most world cup wins by a single athlete at 19, held by triathlon legend, Aussie Emma Carney. Fernandes' time of two hours 2 minutes and 6 seconds was almost a minute faster then second place Andrea Whitcombe of Great Britain . In third, a further 17 seconds back, was Vendula Frintova of Czech Republic .
“Look I never talk about [records]…never…never…," explained Fernandes. "I don't know why but it's the one thing I never talk about. But, it's good to win 19 world cups, I think it's great for Portugal and for me being 22 yeas old to have this record, I think I have to be happy.”
“I'm very proud of my season," continued Fernandes,on this being her last race of 2007. "Because my goal at the beginning of the season was the world champs and I won. But everything is a work for the Olympic games –for my life- for my sport.”
Fernandes was second out of the water in a time of 20:21 and first onto the hilly and technical 40-kilometre bike course. Early on the Portuguese star would break away with Pan-American Games gold medalist Julie Ertel of the United States building a 24-second lead on the chase groups. This lead would not hold, however, as bike-specialist Nico la Spirig of Switzerland managed to reel, first the second group, and then the leaders in by the fourth of eight laps. The Swiss athlete continued right through the large group, breaking away with Fernandes on the second last lap, building a 20 second lead into transition two.
From there it was left to a running race with a large group of 37 women coming off the bike behind the two leaders. In typical fashion, Fernandes would run away from the chasers immediately, never to look back, crossing the line with a 34:56 10-kilometre run split for her sixth world cup win of the season.
The race would be for the silver medal after Fernandes exploded from the front. After the first of three laps it was Whitcombe, Frintova, Spirig and Emma Moffatt of Australia running together, pacing each other. Quickly though it was only Whitcombe and Frintova left as Spirig and Moffat dropped off the pace mid way through the run. Whitcombe would make the deciding move a kilometre from the finish line to pull ahead of the Czech athlete claiming the first world cup silver medal of her career.
Spirig and Moffatt would both fade over the final few kilometres as temperatures began to rise, enabling Ertel and Christiane Pilz of Germany to cross the line in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
2007 Rhodes BG Triathlon World Cup – Elite Women Results
- FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR) 2:02:06
- WHITCOMBE, Andrea (GBR) 2:03:05 +:58
- FRINTOVA, Vendula (CZE) 2:03:22 +1:15
- ERTEL, Julie ( USA ) 2:03:52 +1:45
- PILZ, Christiane (GER) 2:03:52 +1:45
- SPIRIG, Nico la (SUI) 2:03:56 +1:49
- NORDEN, Lisa (SWE) 2:04:02 +1:55
- LISK, Ricarda (GER) 2:04:24 +2:17
- OHMATSU, Saori (JPN) 2:04:28 +2:21
- HIDALGO , Pilar (ESP) 2:04:35 +2:29
Full results are available here: http://live.sport-timing.at/rhodes
Latest Rankings are available here:
http://triathlon.org/?call=TWpNMw%3D%3D&keep=sh&MM_filter=frmFilters&sex=female&yr=MjAwNw%3D%3D&Submit=Filter+Results
High Resolution images, audio quotes, results, athlete profiles and further information please visit the ITU Online Media Centre at: http://www.triathlon.org/media/rhodes-medpanelopen.php
For more information, athlete photos and interviews please contact:
Paula Kim, ITU Communications Manager (ONSITE)
Mobile : +44 7793 594647
Email: paula.kim@triathlon.org
Stephen Bourdeau, ITU Media Manager
Mobile : +1.780.908.9299
Email: stephen.bourdeau@triathlon.org
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