Castro Fajardo, Dodet Victorious in Chile
Men's Race Recap
With just a few hundred meters to go and Chile’s Diego Moya leading the country’s first ever World Cup, it was Spain’s David Castro Fajardo who pounced down the final straight to win a dramatic sprint finish at Sunday’s World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mar.
The Santiago 2023 Pan American Games course was getting its first workout before next November’s championship, and Castro had put together a good swim in choppy conditions to exit 15 seconds behind Moya and alongside Morocco’s Jawad Abdelmoula, the trio remaining locked in battle for the rest of the race.
Out onto the run, Castro and Moya moved quickly to the front, the crowds urging on their idol but the Spaniard stuck firmly on his shoulder, Abdelmoula unable to reel them in. Down the final straight, it was Castro making the decisive move and as he took the tape and debut gold, the crowd was lifting Moya to edge to a silver ahead of the Moroccan star in third.
“The swim was hard, the water very cold, but the group worked well on the bike to catch up and I wanted to start picturing the run on the last lap,” said a happy David Castro. “Diego set a good pace and my legs were tired but I had enough to give at the end. I saw Diego check his watch and the crowd was calling his name, but that was good for my focus too. Finally, I could get my first World Cup victory.”
The final 2.5km of the run was cat-and-mouse between Moya and Castro for the gold. as the crowd ramped up their support for Moya – and for Abdelmoula the Moroccan and Schauffler the German for the bronze.
The Moroccan pulled into third before the last turn, which was also Castro’s moment to charge. while Moya emptied his ammunition to hold off his ASICS World Triathlon teammate Abdelmoula. The pair were making history as the first duo from the development squad to stand together on a World Cup podium.
Schauffler held on for fourth ahead of Jordi Garcia Gracia of Spain and Crociani, with Alois Knabl of Austria, Darr Smith, Penaflor and Basanta rounding out the top ten.
“I’ve been working so hard for this race, I’m really happy with the work i’ve done with my coach Anita (Maria Lecumberri),” said Diego Moya. “I’m so happy. I was feeling really good in the swim but this was to be all about the run.”
“I’m very happy to finish third in my first race and my first time in Chile,” said Abdelmoula. “I just want to take away the experience and a good result from a very strong start list. Diego pushed very well and I didn’t know where my form was so I preferred to be patient. Two months ago, I was injured – so this makes me very happy.”
Men's Race Results
1, David Castro Fajardo (ESP) S 8:58 T1 00:24 B 26:08 T2 00:21 R 15:00 TOT 50:52
2. Diego Moya (CHL) S 8:43 T1 00:25 B 26:22 T2 00:21 R 15:02 TOT 50:55
3. Jawad Abdelmoula (MAR) S 8:59 T1 00:28 B 26:01 T2 00:23 R 15:10 TOT 50:56
4. Jannik Schaufler (GER) S 9:03 T1 00:27 B 25:58 T2 00:23 R 51:04 TOT 51:04
5. Jordi Garcia Gracia (ESP) S 9:06 T1 00:30 B 25:54 T2 00:18 R 15:21 TOT 51:12
6. Alessio Crociani (ITA) S 8:56 T1 00:36 B 25:58 T2 00:18 R 15:27 TOT 51:16
7. Alois Knabl (AUT) S 8:59 T1 00:26 B 26:02 T2 00:22 R 15:32 TOT 15:32
8. Darr Smith (USA) S 9:03 T1 00:23 B 25:59 T2 00:23 R 15:30 TOT 15:30 TOT 51:23
9. Aram Michell Pentaflor Moysen (MEX) S 9:11 T1 00:26 B 25:52 T2 00:24 R 15:36 TOT 51:31
10. Esteban Besanta Fouz (ESP) S 8:57 T1 00:25 B 26:07 T2 00:21 R 15:40 TOT 15:40 TOT 51:32
Women's Race Recap
Vina del Mar was a weekend to remember for Sandra Dodet of France, taking the last World Triathlon Cup gold of 2022 in Viña del Mar on Sunday morning as Chile held its first ever World Cup at the site of next year’s Pan American Games.
It was another strong display by the Cup specialist to take her win count to three and an eighth podium appearance. Dodet’s strong swim in difficult conditions set her on the right course. And after the 20km bike had brought a large pack together, it was soon the familiar sight of Dodet setting the pace at the front of the run before holding on all the way to the line to wrap up her 2022 racing in style.
Behind her, Gina Sereno of the U.S, was putting in an excellent surge to work her way through the contenders and advanced into second by the last lap taking a silver and, just behind. a debut podium for Colombian Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto.
It began on a cold day with cold choppy water on the Pacific coast for a beach start. There, the top-ranked athletes all started on the left of the line but then drifted even further that way en route to the first buoy.
Sara Vilic of Austria found clear water ahead, Lea Coninx of France) right with her and current race number one Emy Legault of Canada was also going well. But with sighting proving difficult, the Austrian veered off course after the final buoy, allowing the likes of Tamara Gorman of the U.S. and Luisa Baptista of Brazil to make up ground.
Dodet sprinted the long transition to the bikes in a rush to get back in touch with the leaders. But teammate Lea Coninx set out on the bike ahead with a little daylight before Baptista and Legault caught on.
Sadly, Coninx slid out on the first corner and crashed on the tarmac. Legault, unable to swerve in time – also came off hard. Shaken but avoiding serious injury, the pair were unable to continue. With the pace slowed, the two front groups came together.
A group of 26 then rode together, Gorman dropping off the back with Mathilde Gautier of France driving the pace ahead. After three laps, each packing a sharp climb and rapid, twisting descent, Ana Godoy Contreras of Spain led the swarm into transition for T2 with Eva Daniels of Luxembourg and Hiraku Fukuoka of Japan for company.
But it was Hungary’s Marta Kropko who ran on to the 5km first, followed by Belgium’s Claire Michel 8 seconds back, Baptista 12 seconds further arrears and Gorman over a minute off the pace.
It took only a few hundred meters for Dodet to click into gear, pull alongside then advance past that trio, quickly opening a gap ahead.
It was a gap that was never really to be reeled in.
The leader was accelerating through the turns while the chasers had to battle for the best lines. Cecilia Sayuri Ramirez Alavez of Mexico, looking in good form alongside Marta Pintanel Raymundo of Spain and Baptista. But it was the Colombian Velasquez who hung tough and patiently awaited her moment.
Sereno found herself clear in second for the majority of the second lap and Velasquez finally managed to shake off Pintanel down the last straight.
Dodet took the final turn with just enough daylight to be able to soak up the victory despite Sereno’s pressure. It was an excellent first podium for the American and Velasquez likewise with bronze.
Women's Race Results
1. Sandra Dodet (FRA) S 10:15 T1 0:33 B 29:10 T2 00:26 R 16:47 TOT 57:13
2. Gina Sereno (USA) S 10:30 T1 00:34 B 28:58 T2 00:29 R 16:43 TOT 57:15
3. Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto (COL) S 10:33 T1 00:29 B 28:52 T2 0:215 R 17:00 TOT 57:22
4. Marta Pintanel Raymundo (ESP) S 10:32 T1 00:33 B 28:51 T2 00:23 R 17:09 TOT 57:29
5. Claire Michel (BELG) S 10:33 T1 00:35 B 28:50 T2 00:24 R 17:12 TOT 57:35
6. Tereza Zimovjanova (CZE) S 10:32 T1 00:33 B 28:52 T2 00:26 R 17:13 TOT 57:37
7. Elizabeth Bravo (ECU) S 10:32 T1 00:26 B 29:01 T2 00:29 R 17:09 TOT 57:39
8. Beatrice Mallozzi (ITA) S 10:37 T1 00:30 B 28:50 T2 00:21 R 17:22 TOT 57:42
9. Luisa Baptista (BRA) S 10:13 T1 00:29 B 29:18 T2 00:25 R 17:19 TOT 57:46
10. Cecilia Sayuri Ramirez Alavez (MEX)S 10:22 T1 00:30 B 29:07 T2 00:25 R 17:23 TOT 57:48
11. Annie Kelly (USA) S 11:01 T1 00:31 B 32:11 T2 00:23 R 19:26 TOT 1:03:34
