Zundert, Netherlands: - Under sweltering conditions Julie Dibens from Great Britain and Cédric Fleureton from France proved to be the most heat-resistant athletes during the ITU International Event/Dutch championships in Zundert, once the hometown of painter Vincent van Gogh. Holland, known for it's temperate climate, this Sunday proved to be a tough place to race with 30°C temperatures and humid conditions. Water temperatures rose above 20°C in the last week, so wetsuits were not allowed.

Known swimmer Julie Dibens took advantage by exiting the water almost 40 seconds ahead of a trailing group consisting of Simone Bürli (Switzerland), Nathalie Daumas (France), two time European champion Kathleen Smet (Belgium) and Holland's Jenette Tolhoek. Halfway through the bike section Dibens was caught by the chase group. "I biked semi-hard. I knew they were going to catch me, but I wanted them to work hard for it", the former Australian declared.

During the run through Zundert's main street everyone expected a coup by Smet, the highest ranking athlete present in Zundert, but it was Dibens who took the lead and brought victory home. It was her first win in an ITU International Event. She was especially pleased with her performance on the run. "That has always been my weak spot. I've trained hard to improve that and wanted to test my run with the British champs coming up next week. I'm very glad I won." Tracy Looze, the Australian wife of Dutch athlete Dennis Looze, who was one minute down after the bike, with a formidable 35:22 minute run took second place in front of Smet.

Looze, who hopes the receive a Dutch passport in two weeks, couldn't be crowned Dutch champion. These honours went to 18-year old Wendy de Boer, last year's European junior champion. It was her first Dutch title. Jenette Tolhoek took silver, Wendy's two year older sister Tanya won the bronze medal.

The men's race saw a lead group of thirteen after the swim with a larger pack of twenty athletes jumping on their bikes half a minute later. Because of the slow pace in the lead group during the first kilometre of the bike section, the second group caught up quickly. After a chaotic last bike kilometre, the pack catapulted into the bike-run transition. Fleureton proved to be the best runner on the 10 km, clocking 30.59 minute on the run. Shane Reed (New Zealand) came in second, Britain"s Richard Allen took third place.

All three athletes on the podium said they needed the World ranking points badly because of fierce competition back home to qualify for the World Champs and the Olympic Games. 29-year old Fleureton for exemple didn't make the cut for France's 7-athlete Olympic preparation squad and hoped his win would bring him one step closer to re-entering the team. "I wanted to show my country I still exist. I hope this win will bring me back into the picture and will give me a chance to go for the Olympics."

The Dutch title went to surprise winner Sander Berk, with his ninth place, the only Dutchman to qualify in the top-ten and thus earn points. Berk won his first Dutch title by beating former Dutch champion Dennis Looze, back after two years of injuries, and Bas Diederen.