Donovaly, Slovakia: A wonderful day in Donovaly
for the second stage in the 2003 ITU Winter Triathlon
World Cup Series, as both air and snow temperatures
hovered around 55c. The event, which was also the
European Championships was contested over a 5.6 running
course, followed by a 10.3km mountain bike section
and ending with a 8km cross-country skate-ski section.
The wind during the event ranged between 25 and 35
km/hr.
It
was snowing lightly as a small but competition field
of elite women gathered at the start. A strong wind
lifted the frozen flakes into silver clouds which
sparkled against the contrast of the dark grey sky.
Fortunately the wind died down during the race and
a bright sun shone on hundreds of weekend adventurers
who had gathered to enjoy the event.
Marianne
Vlasveld of the Netherlands controlled her strongest
challenger, Sigrid Lang of Germany from start to finish
to reverse the results of last weekend's World Cup
race in Wildhaus, where Lang took over during the
ski section. Vlasveld, the current ITU World Champion
now adds the 2003 ITU European Champion in Winter
Triathlon to her credits.
From
the start, Vlasveld and Lang ran shoulder to shoulder,
just slightly ahead of Germany's Jutta Schubert and
Ann-Katrin Nietsche. A second chase group which included
Sabka Gabmulerova of the Czech Republic and Spain's
Inmaculada Pereiro and Naia Alzola tried to keep contact.
The
first part of the mountain bike section, which was
particularly demanding, allowed Marianne Vlasveld
to put some time on Sigrid Lang - a gap which increased
on each lap.
Although
Lang posted the fastest cross-country ski leg, she
could not catch a fluid and powerful Vlasveld as she
charged home for the title.
Elite Women podium:
1. Marianne VLASVELD NED 1. 36. 58
2. Sigrid LANG GER 1. 38. 45
3. Jutta SCHUBERT GER 1.43.52
In the men's event, 30 challengers toed the starting
line, each dreaming of European Gold. Within seconds
of the start, a group of 4 moved to the front including
Swiss team-mates Christoph Mauch and Joseph Brugger
and Germany's Benjamin Sontag and Ernst Walter. But
it was the current World Ranked #1, Benjamin Sonntag
who breezed through transition first.
During
the difficult stretch of the mountain bike section,
Sonntag built up a lead that was never challenged.
Marc Ruhe of Liechenstein, the current World Champion
and without doubt the best mountain biker of the ITU
World Cup circuit, managed to move into contention
by the second transition. By posting one of fastest
cross-country ski legs of the day, Ruhe managed to
pull within 30 seconds of Sonntag and capture the
silver medal. The powerful Thomas Schrenck of Germany
put in an excellent cross-country ski leg and captured
the final step on the podium.
Elite Men podium:
1. Benjamin SONTAG GER 1.23.19
2. Marc RUHE LIE 1.23.51
3. Thomas SCHRENCK GER 1.24.07
The juniors competition consisted of a 3k run, 5.2km
mountain bike, and 5.2km cross-country ski. The new
kid on the block, Martin Jurco of Slovakia, did not
give any chances to his competitors as he dominated
the race from the start. A misdirection on the last
lap of the cross-country section prevented him from
crossing the finish line first. Jan Van Berkel of
Switzerland took the honour of lifting the ITU European
Winter Triathlon Championship finish banner. At the
meeting of the competition jury chaired by the ETU
President and ITU Board member, Marisol Casado ESP,
the decision was made to declare a tie for the title.
Junior Men podium:
1. Jan Van Berkel SUI 45.03
1. Martin Jurco SVK 45.03
2. Martin Velits SVK 46.50
3. Peter Velits SVK 48.15
The Junior women's field saw a seasaw battle from
the start to the finish between Slovakian team-mates
Zuzana Hruzova and Zuzana Durmanova. Only in the last
hectometer of the cross-country skiing were they able
to split for a victory of Zuzana over Zuzana.
Junior women podium:
1. Zuzana Hruzova SVK 1.05.44
2. Zuzana Durmanova SVK 1.06.12
3. Juliana Stykova SVK 1.07.09
Race
Director: Dusan Hrasko
Competition Jury: Marisol Casado, Chair, Enrique
Quesada, ESP
