Wildhaus,
Switzerland: German athletes dominated the ITU
Winter Triathlon World Cup opener in Wildhaus, Switzerland.
In the women's event, the current World Champion of
Winter Triathlon, Marianne Vlasveld of the Netherlands,
had to settle for 2nd, as Germany's Sigrid Lang and
Jutta Schubert took steps #1 and #3 on the podium.
Benjamin Sonntag made it 3 medals for Germany by winning
the men's event and retaining his Wildhaus World Cup
title.
In
the days leading up to the event, heavy snow fell
making lots of challenges on the course. The event
organisers in consultation with Technical Delegate
Michel Gignoux
and the Athletes Representatives, decided to shorten
the race from 5 laps for each leg to 3 laps run (4,8
km), 4 laps bike (11,2 km) and 10 km Skating (10 km).
During the entire event, a constant but thin layer
of clouds hid the scenery of the magnificent Churfirsten
mountains and the Säntis Massiv. The sun only
came up shortly after the finish.
Sigrid
Lang and Marianne Vlasveld provided an exciting women’s
race. The battle began from the start and continued
through the 4.8 kilometre run until Vlasveld took
over on the mountain bike section, building up a 1
minute lead on the technical and demanding sections
of the course - it almost seemed as if the course
was not difficult enough for the flying Dutch woman.
But the lead was not enough to hold off Sigrid Lang
once she got onto the skate section. She not only
caught Vlasveld, but put 1:11 on her by the finishline.
Third place went to Germany's Jutta Schubert.
In
the men's event, Benjamin Sonntag completed the run
in the lead group together with French team-mates
Nicolas Lebrun and Olivier Bulle, as well as Patrik
Kuril (SVK). On the mountain bike course, which included
last year’s spectacular downhill section, Sonntag
broke away. Reigning world champion Marc Ruhe (Lie)
caught Lebrun and moved into second position - Lebrun
and Ruhe entered the second transition together, 2:10
behind Benjamin Sonntag. While Ruhe faded, the Norwegian
Frode Pederson had the fastest skating split to take
third place. No one could contest Benjamin Sonntag
for the win - his second success in a row at this
event.
