Silva and Findlay in Monterrey
Portugal's Joao Silva grabbed the 2010 ITU Monterrey World Cup in Monterrey, Mexico. Paula Findlay of Canada won the women's race with a dominating performance and thus earned her first Word Cup title.
The women
As expected American Hayley Peirsol took the lead from the start and swam away from all the other competitors. She ended up with a 40 second lead over a group that included Findlay, Claudia Rivas (MEX), Line Jensen (DEN), Mari Rabie (RSA), Chie Nakashima (JPN) and Elizabeth Bravo (ECU). The next group which contained favorite Ai was another 50 seconds further back.
Peirsol wasn't waiting around on the bike for the front pack to catch up to her, after all she had worked hard during the swim for that nice lead. But the chase pack eventually caught her and the now new lead pack worked hard to not let the Ueda group make contact. Getting back to T2 the leaders had a 40 second cushion over the chasers and the race was on.
Findlay and Nakashima were first out of transition but it was Findlay who was soon alone in the lead. Ueda managed to run herself into second position, but that was as close as she would get. Findlay crossed the line first and was ecstatic about her very first Word Cup win. It also happened to be the first World Cup race Findlay actually finished. According to ITU media, Findlay's only other World Cup start was at Hy-Vee in 2009 and the young Canadian did not finish that race.
"I'm so surprised right now. I really didn't expect that," said Findlay. "I felt good on the first 5K, but the last half of the run was really a struggle."
The men
Canadian Andrew McCartney led the men out of the water with Americans Brian Fleischmann, Cameron Dye and Ben Collins not far behind.
Once on the bike, a lead group of 8 emerged containing the 4 fast swimmers, Germany's Stefan Zachaeus and Gregor Buchholz and Portugal's Joao Silva and Duarte Silva Marques. Behind them the main pack was led by Matt Chrabot, but they seemed unable to gain on the leading eight. By the time they all hit T2 the gap was still 40 seconds as it had been after the swim.
Zachaeus had the fastest transition, but it was Silva and Marques who surged into the lead soon after. Halfway through the run Silva had a 20 second lead over Marques and 15 more on Chrabot, Manny Huerta and Seth Wealing. Silva continued to run comfortable up front and managed to cross the line in first. Behind him Buchholz had pushed hard to catch up to the Americans, but in the end Chrabot was just too fast for him. Chrabot crossed the line in second and Buchholz earned the final podium spot.
ITU World Cup Monterrey
Monterrey, Mexico / April 18
Top 10 men
1. Joao Silva (POR) 1:44:40
2. Matt Chrabot (USA) 1:45:05
3. Gregor Buchholz (GER) 1:45:08
4. Seth Wealing (USA) 1:45:15
5. Manuel Huerta (USA) 1:45:21
6. Duarte Silva Marques (POR) 1:45:25
7. Reinaldo Colucci (BRA) 1:45:35
8. Tyler Butterfield (BER) 1:45:38
9. Erhard Wolfaard (RSA) 1:45:41
10. Aurelien Lescure (FRA) 1:45:44
Top 10 women
1. Paula Findlay (CAN) 1:56:40
2. Ai Ueda (JPN) 1:58:03
3. Line Jensen (DEN) 1:58:25
4. Mari Rabie (RSA) 1:58:51
5. Elizabeth Bravo (ECU) 1:59:00
6. Hailey Peirsol (USA) 1:59:02
7. Alicia Kaye (CAN) 1:59:09
8. Claudia Rivas (MEX) 1:59:20
9. Jenna Shoemaker (USA) 1:59:25
10. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 1:59:55
