Dodet Edges Derron at Arzachena World Triathlon Cup
Sandra Dodet was one of five triathletes who joined in a battle for the lead during the halfway point of the 5k run after a searing heat and the rugged Arzachena hills took the legs out of the rest of the field. As the rest dropped out of contention, Dodet surged away to a 4 seconds lead and Julie Derron of Switzerland and Luisa Baptista of Brazil dueled for the silver. Dodet hit the line in 1:00:31 with a 4 seconds margin for the gold, while Derron edged Baptista by one second for the silver – repeating her second place at this race a year ago.
“It was a very hard race,” Dodet told World Triathlon media. “I think we did two loops on the bike chasing Mathilde Gautier, [who fell exhausted to 8th at the finish after her bravura charge on the bike]. “After that we regrouped. [Mathilda] is very strong on the bike, but we did a good job, so we should be proud. I actually didn’t feel very good on the run but I tried to stay strong.”
Italian Bianca Seregni led the field through the non-wetsuit swim through the turnaround, followed by Zsanett Bragmayer of Hungary, Sophie Alden of Great Britain Emma Jeffcoat of Australia right on her feet. As they approached the beach, Seregni veered off course and fell back into the chase group next to Mathilde Gauthier of France and Annabel Koch of Germany.
Gauthier arrived first at the beach, but Koch of Germany zoomed through transition into the lead starting the cycling leg, 30 seconds ahead of Julie Derron of Switzerland and Luisa Baptista of Brazil. Sophie Alden of Great Britain and Annabel Koch of Germany ride with Gauthier until the Frenchwoman pulled away to a 20 seconds advantage at the first summit.
Verena Steinhauser of Italy and Miriam Casillas Garcia of Spain were driving the chasers on lap two, but failed to make a dent to close in on the leader. Once the chasers made contact with Gauthier on the final climb, 23 women formed a pack and Lisa Perterer of Austria, Claire Michel of Belgium and Tamara Gorman of the United States in position to contend after T2.
Casillas and Steinhauser led the field on to the run, with Casillas opening to the first lead, with Derron, Dodet, and Baptista leading the chasers with Steinhauser falling back. In the opening of the second and final run lap, Dodet pulled clear to a decisive lead and Derron and Baptista were left to contend for the silver. In a final push, Derron prevailed and this repeated her second place finish of a year ago.
“Before the race I was really unsure of where my fitness was so I am really pleased to come away with second, Derron told World Triathlon media. “In the run I thought many times that I was getting dropped but I tried to stay really strong mentally and fight until the finish because I learned last year that it’s not over until it’s really over.”
“I am very happy with the result,” Baptista told World Triathlon media. “It was a very hard race not only because of the heat, also the climbs, The Brazilian girls told me it would be hard but we came really prepared for this. The downhills were pretty fast and the girls always opened a little gap so I had to come back. It was hard but I am really happy to execute a good race.”
World Triathlon Cup Arzachena
Arzachena, Sardinia Italy
May 28. 2022
S 750k / B 20k / R 5k
Women's Results
1. Sandra Dodet (FRA) S 1:00:31 – S, T1, B, T2, R splits not available
2. Julie Derron (SUI) 9:45 T1 00:43 B 32:44 T2 00:27 R 16:54 TOT 1:00:35
3. Luisa Baptista (BRA) S 09:40 T1 00:44 B 32:52 T2 00:23 R 16:55 TOT 1:00:36
4. Jeanne Lehair (TRI) S 09:22 T1 00:40 B 33:11 T2 00:24 R 17:05 TOT 1:00:46
5. Miriam Casillas Garcia (ESP) S 09:28 T1 00:42 B 33:02 T2 00:21 R 17:17 TOT 1:00:52
6. Verena Steinhauser (ITA) S 09:21 T1 00:42 B 33:08 T2 00:21 R 17:24 TOT 1:01:00
7. Annika Koch (GER) S 09:17 T1 00:38 B 33:16 T2 00:25 R 17:28 TOT 1:01:04
8. Mathilde Gautier (FRA) S 09:14 T1 00:41 B 33:19 T2 00:27 R 17:28 TOT 1:01:12
9. Claire Michel (BEL) S 09:22 T1 00:41 B 33:10 T2 00:25 R 17:32 TOT 1:01:13
10. Julia Hauser (AUT) S 09:21 T1 00:42 B 33:11 T2 00:27 R 17:33 TOT 1:01:17
17. Tamara Gordon (USA) S 09:19 T1 00:42 B 33:14 T2 00:27 R 17:56 TOT 1:01:41
