Amazing Fernandes wins record 20th Word Cup
The 2007 World Champion Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal won the 2008 Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup and with it became the ITU all-time world cup win leader. The race was the 200th World Cup in ITU history and the 20th win for 22-year old Fernandes in just 31st World Cup starts.
After the swim Fernandes led a group of six athletes out of T1 and they created a 28-second lead after the first lap one. The lead pack soon was down to Fernandes, Hollie Avil and Helen Tucker of Great Britain and Daniela Ryf of Switzerland, and these 4 continued to gain time on the chase group. By the time they reached the end of the bike section their lead had grown to 2:35.
Fernandes left T2 first and quickly opened up a gap over Avil, Tucker and Ryf. No one was going to challenge her today and Fernandes cruised to a sixth straight Madrid title and a record 20th career win. Tucker held on to second and virtually assured herself a spot on the British Olympic team. Ryf grabbed 3rd, and while Avil just missed the podium with her 4th place, she certainly still helped her Olympic hopes. With her 7th place finish, Christiane Pilz grabbed the final Beijing slot for Germany.
2008 Madrid BG Triathlon World Cup, Spain
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Top 10 women
1. Vanessa Fernandes (POR) 2:04:46
2. Helen Tucker (GBR) 2:05:49
3. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 2:06:10
4. Hollie Avil (GBR) 2:06:19
5. Lisa Norden (SWE) 2:07:36
6. Elizabeth May (LUX) 2:08:00
7. Christiane Pilz (GER) 2:08:05
8. Carole Peon (FRA) 2:08:19
9. Eva Dollinger (AUT) 2:08:20
10. Emma Davis (IRL) 2:08:45
