Meanwhile the women, who hit the water fifteen minutes
after the men, were being similarly split apart by
a solid swim by Susanne Nielson (DEN), Jane Fardell
(AUS) and Lisbeth Kristensen (DEN), from Sophie Delmer
(FRA), Lori Lynn Leach (CAN), Lena Wahlqvist (SWE)
and Karin Forsberg (SWE).
Loisel
soon took the lead of the men's race, as De Faveri
began to slip back through the field. The Frenchman
consistently extended his lead during the first 60
of the 180 kilometre bike leg, to almost four and
a half minutes.
Four riders who exited the water together cycled in
close proximity, including Sandvang, Torbjorn Sindballe
(DEN), Patrick Vernay (FRA) and Jonas Colting (SWE).
It was a disappointing start to the race for the two
time ITU Long Course World Champion, who can usually
claim the swim as a strength of his race.
However
Sandvang was just finding his rhythm and as conditions
began to deteriorate, he pulled in the leading athletes.
Working his way from seventh place the tall Danish
took the lead by the 120 kilometre mark, reveling
in the constant showers.
"The
last thirty kilometres of the bike was a bit like
riding in a river," joked Sandvang later. "It
helped me, I didn't get cold because I am a big guy
and I am quite used to the tough conditions."
By
the bike to run transition, Sandvang had established
a 3:28 lead from countryman Rasmus Henning (DEN).
Torbjorn Sindballe (DEN), who had ridden in close
proximity of Sandvang throughout the race, also improved
his position in the latter stages of the race, entering
the final 42.2 kilometre run leg in third.
Early
leaders, De Faveri and Loisel, slipped to 14th and
18th respectively and were no longer a factor in the
race.
On the bike, the women were also jostling positions.
Fardell was soon to retire and Nielson pushed on despite
suffering mechanical problems with her bike. Kristensen
relinquished her lead to the powering Forsberg, who
was to lead for much of the first half of the race.
However Kristensen re-established her authority in
the closing stages, taking a 2:38 lead into the bike
to run transition.
Already
out on the run, Sandvang was to run an addition 400
metres out of transition, as a penalty for disobeying
drafting rules during the bike portion of the race.
The
additional distance didn't phase the popular Copenhagen
athlete, as he powered onto rolling run course, featuring
long gradual hills and an out-and-back format of four
laps.
After
2:56:41 of running and the best efforts of Henning,
with a 2:54:42 marathon, Sandvang crossed the line
and became the World Long Course Triathlon Champion.
Celebrating with the 30,000 spectators, his wife and
two young children, Sandvang was ecstatic with his
third world title.
Colting
ran a blistering 2:49:16 to bridge a four minute deficit
and pick up the bronze medal for Sweden.
Meanwhile, the lithe Kristensen had set out on the
run with Forsberg, Wahlqvist and Neilson the only
real challengers to her position. Further back Anna
Swardstrom (SWE), Robyn Roocke (AUS) and Estelle Patou
(FRA) were running a race of their own.
Kristensen
was never to look back, despite her reticence toward
the marathon ahead.
"I had a good swim and my bike was awesome,"
said Kristensen after the race. "But I was really
scared of the marathon. I could feel the girls behind
me. It wasn't until the halfway mark that I started
to feel better and it wasn't until there was three
kilometres to go that I realized that I could win!"
Wahlqvist
ran the race of her life to move clear into second
place, ahead of a strong finishing Neilson.
Full
results are available at www.triathlon.org <http://www.triathlon.org>
and pictures, supplied by Allsport, are free of charge
for editorial use and available by request, or at
www.allsport.com <http://www.allsport.com> .
For
any further information, please contact:
Nici
Andronicus
Sportsworld Media Group
nici.andronicus@sportsworld.net
+44 7 8877 87402 (mobile onsite anytime)
www.triathlon.org
Men:
1.
Peter Sandvang (DEN) 8:24:17
2. Rasmus Henning (DEN) 8:25:46
3. Jonas Colting (SWE) 8:26:32
4. Dirk Van Gossum (BEL) 8:29:00
5. Torbjørn Sindballe (DEN) 8:30:35
Women:
1.
Lisbeth Kristensen (DEN) 9:27:17
2. Lena Wahlqvist (SWE) 9:29:32
3. Susanne Nielsen (DEN) 9:46:02
4. Bianca van Dijk (NED) 9:48:21
5. Karin Forsberg (SWE) 9:55:06
