First
ITU International Event in Holten
Triathlon Holten: Eric van der Linden and Tracey Looze
winners
HOLTEN
- Eric van der Linden and Tracey Looze won the 18th
Triathlon Olympic Distance in Holten. In a thrilling
finale Van der Linden beat the Australian favourite
Simon Thompson in the last lap of the run. It is the
third time that van der Linden, from Schagen, Holland
has won this event in Holten, where he became Dutch
Champion in 2000 and 2001. In the women's race Tracey
Looze was too strong for the Russian Olga Zausailova.
The Triathlon Holten is a Olympic Qualifying Event.
Simon
Thompson led almost the whole race and seemed destined
to become this year's winner. He was over 45 seconds
ahead of his competitors after the cycle. But Erik
van der Linden closed the gap during running and caught
Thompson in the last mile. He won the race and was
very content afterwards. " I am in good shape"
and ready to start at the European Championships in
Györ, Hungary next week.
In
the women's race a group of seven athletes, including
the Australian Tracey Looze, the Russian Olga Zausailova
and the Dutch Ingrid van Lubek, took the lead and
dominated the race. As with the men, the women's race
was decided on the run course. Looze easily run away
from the group and finished well ahead of Zausailova.
Van Lubek placed third.
For
the first time the Triathlon Holten was an ITU International
Event (a.k.a. ITU Points Race). Together with the
ITU World Cup and Regional Championships, these are
the only races where tri-athletes can win points for
the official world ranking. Because the qualification
for the Olympic Games in Athens is mostly based on
this ranking, Triathlon Holten is an official Olympic
Qualifying Event this year. The Triathlon Holten is
one of 40 ITU International Events worldwide and will
be an ITU International Event again next year.
Results
Women
1. Tracy Looze 2.02.45
2. Olga Zausailova 2.03.08
3. Ingrid van Lubek 2.03.11
4. Marianne Braun 2.03.23
5. Wendy de Boer 2.04.32
Men
1. Eric van der Linden 1.47.00
2. Simon Thompson 1.47.17
3. Paul Mackay 1.47.58
4. Huib Rost 1.48.09
5. Leonid Ivanov 1.48.14
