21 July 2001: The swim section of the men's event in Corner Brook looked like a solid block of humanity charging through the water together. With at least 30 athletes, four abreast at the front, Chris Hill of Australia managed to find some clear water in the lead as he rounded each turn buoy. At his side were Bevan Docherty of New Zealand, Canada's Olympic Champion Simon Whitfield and the 2001 Corner Brook winner Martin Krnavek of the Czech Republic.

The pack exited the water together, with Stefan Poulat of France being the first one up the hill and onto the 6-lap, 40km bike course. Poulat was followed closely by Whitfield and the 2000 World Champion, Olivier Marceau. Hill, Luc van Lierde of Belgium, Docherty, Franck Bignet (France), Hunter Kemper (USA) were all able to catch the tail end of the lead group as it stormed onto one of the most challenging bike courses on the circuit. Seconds behind the leaders were Brian Fleischmann (USA), Kelly Guest (Canada), Eneko Llanos (Spain), Doug Friman (USA), Vassilis Krommidas (Greece) and Javier Rosas (Mexico).

Whitfield, Marceau and Docherty tried to organized the lead group, but were quickly replaced by Franck Bignet and Olivier Marceau who increased the anti each time they charged up the big climbs.

By police estimates, over 25,000 spectators lined the course with the majority located in the stadium at the finish line. When Olivier Marceau broke away from the leaders on the 3rd lap, the united approval of his efforts could be heard up and down the inlet. Through the final laps of the bike, Marceau built his lead to an amazing 56 seconds by the bike to run transition. Franck Bignet was second out of transition followed closely by Chris Hill, Hunter Kemper and Simon Whitfield.

Whitfield, blasted through the first of 4 laps on the run and moved to within 17 seconds of Marceau as they passed the now frenzied spectators at the finish-line. He was followed closely by Stefan Poulat, Bevan Docherty, Hunter Kemper, Luc VanLierde and Samuel Pierreclaud (France), Martin Krnavek and Chris Hill.

On the third lap, Martin Krnavek, who won the 2001 Corner Brook ITU World Cup slipped past the leaders, and for some time looked as though he would claim the top step on the podium again this year. However, the cool, calm running style of Simon Whitfield would eventually wear down all would-be contenders. On the final lap, there was a group of 5 running at the front within a few strides of each other, with Whitfield in the lead, followed closely by Krnavek and Kemper. A few strides behind were Docherty and Poulat. The seesaw battle for the lead produced a dramatic finish with Simon Whitfield taking back-to-back World Cup victories, following his victory last weekend in Edmonton. Hunter Kemper was second and Bevan Docherty rounded out the podium. Equally amazing was the excitement caused by the French athletes who put on a dazzling performance for the fans, and managed to place 4 athletes in the top 10.

1. Simon Whitfield, CAN, 1:53.35
2. Hunter Kemper, USA, 1.53.39
3. Bevan Docherty, NZL, 1.53.58
4. Martin Krnavek, CZE, 1.54.20
5. Stefan Poulat, FRA, 1.54.29
6. Luc van Lierde, BEL, 1.54.33
7. Samuel Pierreclaud, FRA, 1.54.49
8. Stefan Bignet, FRA, 1.55.17
9. Carl Blasco, FRA, 1.56.00
10. Brian Fleischmann, USA 1.56.15