The winner of the ITU International Triathlon de Nuenen, the 17th and last edition of the Dutch classic was not five-time world champion Simon Lessing, nor current junior world champion Frederique Belaubre, but rising Australian Trent Chapman.

The race started in the 20-degrees water of Lake Enode, where Germany's Markus Pruefert exited the water first with Simon Lessing of Great Britain and Frederique Belaubre of France right behind him.

Belaubre and Lessing, making his Dutch debut, took an early lead chased by Aussies team-mates Trent Chapman, Chippy Slater and Robert Harris, France's Guillaume Dechavanne and Gael Mainard, USA's Doug Friman, New Zealand's Kris Gemmel, Britain's Alan Woodward and Germany's Markus Pruefert. This group soon caught the two leaders, and the entire packed stayed together until the second transition.

On the run, Lessing started slowly and by the time he made his move he was also too late to catch Chapman and Belaubre. At 5 kilometers, it was obvious that Lessing was aiming for a third place finish.

In a marvellous sprint finish Trent Chapman out ran Belaubre (in his first year as a elite). Frederique has often been pictured alongside his well-known triathlete/father Georges in French triathlon magazines over the years.

Simon Lessing was pleased with third place finish. He was happy to finally race in Holland, although he said he missed racing against the other great one from Europe, Dutchman Rob Barel. "I am not sure if Rob's really through with triathlon," Lessing said of Barel.

Lessing said he felt very at ease in the Netherlands, and that it was a wonderful high-speed race and wants to come back for more Dutch races. He added that he is still looking for his better form, partly because of the short nights he is now having since the birth of his daughter just some weeks ago. He will next race at the ITU Points Race at Echternach, Luxembourg, 1 July.

In the women's race, five were in the lead group: France's Cornelia Bourgadel, Russia's Olga Generalova, Germany's Anja Heil, Britain's Heather Williams and New Zealand's Evelyn Williamson. The chase pack on the bike included Britain's Andrea Whitcombe, Australia's Tracy Hargreaves, Denmark's Lisbeth Kristiansen and Belgium's Lisbeth De Schrijver.

As soon as run started it was obvious that Williamson, the bronze medallist in the 1998 Lausanne Triathlon World Championships, was the strongest overall, although Whitcombe posted the fastest run of the day. Whitcombe managed to pass Generalova and Bourgadel, finishing fourth. Germany's Anja Heil and Britains Heather Williams rounded out the podium.

PSL Triathlon Nuenen/ITU Points Race
24 June, Nuenen, the Netherlands
1.5k S, 40k B, 10k R

Women:
1. Evelyn Williamson NZL 1.56.25
2. Anja Heil GER 1.57.27
3. Heather Williams GBR 1.58.28
4. Andrea Whitcombe GBR 1.58.39
5. Cornelia Bourgadel FRA 1.58.59
6. Tracy Hargreaves AUS 1.59.36
7. Olga Generalova RUS 2.01.09
8. Lisbeth Kristensen DEN 2.02.51
9. Liesbeth de Schrijver BEL 2.05.35
10 Sione Jongstra NED 2.10.34

Men -
1. Trent Chapman AUS 1.43.33
2. Frederique Belaubre FRA 1.43.36
3. Simon Lessing GBR 1.44.26
4. Guillaume Dechavanne FRA 1.45.03
5. Kris Gemmel NZL 1.45.31
6. Doug Friman USA 1.45.33
7. Chippy Slater AUS 1.46.22
8. Anthony Parish AUS 1.46.49
9. Gael Mainard FRA 1.47.03
10. Cyrille Mazure FRA 1.47.10

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