Austrian veteran Carina Wasle thrilled the Austrian crowds by winning her first ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships on home soil today.
Cooler temperatures reaching -10 degrees Celsius with the wind chill welcomed the athletes to the start of the challenging and snow-covered course. First were the women with the elite and under23 athletes racing together. The question on everyones mind was who would step forward with the absence of six time world champion Sigrid Mutscheller of Germany. The answer was quickly put forward as hometown favourite Carina Wasle jumped to the front of the field early into the 7.5 kilometre run. She was closely followed by Rebecca Dussault from USA for the first two laps but managed to pull away after that point to lead by 40 seconds heading onto the bike leg.
It seemed that the conditions were ideal for Wasle as she continued to increase her lead over the rest of the field during the 12.5 kilometre snow-packed bike course. Dussault was in second position, 90 seconds back with Norwegian Elisabeth Sveum right behind her. Yulia Barabash from Russia had far the best cycling time of the day, of 30:15, but would fade out of contention during the cross-country ski.
Dussault started the cross-country ski with an impressive move making time on Wasle, but the veteran Wasle used her experience and pacing to hold off the challenge on her way to a 1 hour 32 minute and 28 seconds winning time. Dussaults early charge would haunt her as she slowed during the final kilometres and Norways Hanne Tronnes passed her to claim the silver medal, 90 seconds down from Wasle. Dussault finished a further 90 seconds back to grab the first ever USA medal from the elite world championships.
I feel great, it was a special race for me, because the World Championships is at home in Austria, exclaimed Wasle. To win the gold medal here is fantastic. It was really hard from the beginning, but after the start I did not think about, just gave the best I could. It was the tactic to run very fast from the start, because I knew that the others are very good in the skiing so I needed the gap during the race. The spectators really pushed me.
Sveum continued on to finish second overall and win the gold medal in the under23 category. Anita Dalen, also of Norway, finished second, with Austrias Angelika Perfler in third.
In the junior category, Tone Dalen of Norway took home the gold medal. The junior womens silver medalist was Estonias Kairi Schmidt with Lisa Perterer of Austria in third.
2009 ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships Gaishorn, Austria
(7.5km run, 12.5km bike, 9.9km ski)
Elite Women
Gold WASLE Carina AUT1:32:28
Silver TRONNES Hanne NOR1:34:06
Bronze DUSSAULT Rebecca USA1:35:30
4th HOTT JOHANSEN Camilla NOR1:26:20
5th CHAROCHKINA Tatiana RUS1:37:00
6th HAUG Anne GER1:37:06
7th GRABMULLEROVA Sarke CZE1:41:29
8th MEISTERHOFER Klaudia AUT1:41:35
9th GARRARD Emma USA1:42:04
10th LAMASTRA Giuliana ITA1:46:33
Under23 Women
Gold SVEUM Elisabeth NOR1:33:47
Silver DALEN Anita NOR1:42:03
Bronze PERFLER Angelika AUT1:55:43
Junior Women
Gold DALEN Tone NOR1:01:24
Silver SCHMIDT Kairi EST1:03:19
Bronze PERTERER Lisa AUT1:03:55
Click here for picture gallery.
La veterana austriaca Carina Wasle emocion a la aficin austriaca tras ganar hoy su primer Campeonato del Mundo de Triatln de Invierno en casa.
Alcanzando temperaturas por debajo de 10 centgrados, con el viento fro y el recorrido cubierto por la nieve los atletas comenzaron su participacin. Primero fueron las mujeres con las atletas lite y sub23 compitiendo al mismo tiempo. La pregunta que estaba en la mente de todos es quien llevara la iniciativa con la ausencia de la seis veces campeona del mundo, la alemana Sigrid Mutscheller. La respuesta fue rpida, saltando a la cabeza la favorita local Carina Wasle al inicio de los 7,5 kilmetros de la carrera a pie. La sigui de cerca la estadounidense Rebecca Dussault durante las dos primeras vueltas, pero a partir de ah consigui distanciarse logrando una ventaja de 40 segundos en el segmento de la bicicleta.
Las condiciones parecan ideales para que Wasle continuase incrementando su ventaja sobre el resto de participantes durante los 12,5 del nevado recorrido de bicicleta. Dussault estaba en segunda posicin a 90 segundos, con la noruega Elisabeth Sveum justo por detrs. La rusa Yulia Barabash tuvo el mejor tiempo del da sobre la bicicleta, 30:15, pero perdera todas sus opciones durante el esqu campo a travs.
Dussault comenz el esqu campo a travs con un ritmo impresionante alcanzando a Wasle, pero la veterana Wasle hizo gala de su experiencia y puso el ritmo que la llevo a conseguir la victoria con un tiempo de 1 hora, 32 minutos y 28 segundos. Dussault disminuy su marcha en los ltimos kilmetros y la noruega Hanne Tronnes la super para alzarse con la medalla de plata a 90 segundos de Wasle. Dussault termin a otros 90 segundos para conseguir la primera medalla de la historia para Estados Unidos en los campeonatos del mundo lite.
Me siento genial, es una carrera especial para m porque los Campeonatos del Mundo son en casa, Austria, coment Wasle. Ganar la medalla de oro aqu es fantstico. Fue realmente duro desde el inicio, pero desde el inicio no pens en ello, dando lo mejor que pude. La tctica fue correr muy deprisa desde el inicio, porque saba que las dems eran muy buenas en el esqu, por lo que necesit la ventaja durante la carrera. Realmente la aficin me apoyo mucho.
Sveum continu para finalizar segunda en la general y ganar la medalla de oro en la categora Sub23. Anita Dalen, tambin de Noruega, termin segunda y la austriaca Angelika Perfler tercera.
En la categora junior, la noruega Tone Dalen se hizo con la medalla de oro. Kairi Schmidt de Estonia consigui la medalla de plata y la austriaca Lisa Perterer la de bronce.
Campeonatos del Mundo de Triatln de Invierno ITU 2009 Gaishorn, Austria
(7.5km carrera a pie, 12.5km bicicleta, 9.9km esqu)
lite Femenina
Oro WASLE Carina AUT1:32:28
Plata TRONNES Hanne NOR1:34:06
Bronce DUSSAULT Rebecca USA1:35:30
4th HOTT JOHANSEN Camilla NOR1:26:20
5th CHAROCHKINA Tatiana RUS1:37:00
6th HAUG Anne GER1:37:06
7th GRABMULLEROVA Sarke CZE1:41:29
8th MEISTERHOFER Klaudia AUT1:41:35
9th GARRARD Emma USA1:42:04
10th LAMASTRA Giuliana ITA1:46:33
Sub23 Femenina
Oro SVEUM Elisabeth NOR1:33:47
Plata DALEN Anita NOR1:42:03
Bronce PERFLER Angelika AUT1:55:43
Junior Femenina
Oro DALEN Tone NOR1:01:24
Plata SCHMIDT Kairi EST1:03:19
Bronce PERTERER Lisa AUT1:03:55
Pulse aqu para ver los resultados completos.
Pulse aqu para ver la galera fotogrfica.