Gomez, Ueda victorious in Huatulco
Reigning world champion Javier Gomez of Spain closed out his 2010 ITU season in style with a convincing win at the Huatulco ITU Triathlon World Cup. Ruedi Wild won Switzerland's second silver medal of the day while American Matt Chrabot, last year's winner, came from behind to take the bronze.
"It was a real tough race because of the heat but I felt good," said Gomez at the finish area.
Seventy swimmers entered the water for the men's race, 30 riders came together on the bike course. On the final laps on the bike a small group claimed a lead. Chrabot led the men into T2 and as they headed out onto the run, and the heat began to take its toll.
Gomez came off the bike trailing the leaders by almost a minute but moved toward the front on the run. Gomez finished up 30 seconds ahead of his closest competitor.
"In the first two laps I had to push really hard. As soon as I caught the leaders I stayed a bit behind them and then I forced myself again to go fast and soon as I had a gap of 15-20 seconds, I controlled the distance because I didn't feel very good but I did my job and I'm happy to win another World Cup," said Gomez.
Japan's Ai Ueda stormed to her second straight victory in Huatulco, her second World Cup title. Switzerland's Nicola Spirig came from behind to take the silver while Dutch youngster Rachel Klamer surprised all, winning bronze in her first ever World Cup race.
"I love Huatulco. I think a positive mind was the key to winning today. I'm very happy," said Ueda after the race.
Former World Champion Helen Jenkins (GBR) led the women out of the first transition and onto the 40-kilometre bike course. She and four others made up the lead group. But after the fifth of eight laps, the lead had evaporated and the leaders became a group of ten women, which included Ueda.
The group headed into T2 together and set out onto the 10-kilometre run with Spirig, Ueda, Rachel Klamer (NED) and Jenkins pushing the pace. But Ueda began to pull away in the first lap and built an insurmountable lead, winning by a comfortable margin.
Huatulco ITU Triathlon World Cup
Bahia de Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Men
1. Javier Gomez (ESP) 01:49:08
2. Ruedi Wild (SUI) 01:49:38
3. Matt Chrabot (USA) 01:49:54
4. Reinaldo Colucci (BRA) 01:50:09
5. Premysl Svarc (CZE) 01:50:17
6. Peter Croes (BEL) 01:50:22
7. Leonardo Chacon (CRC) 01:50:25
8. Gavin Noble (IRL) 01:50:40
9. Bruno Pais (POR) 01:50:43
10. Aurélien Lescure (FRA) 01:50:53
Women
1. Ai Ueda (JPN) 01:59:51
2. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 2:00:24
3. Rachel Klamer (NED) 2:00:40
4. Helen Jenkins (GBR) 2:01:11
5. Gwen Jorgensen (USA) 2:01:2
6. Melanie Annaheim (SUI) 2:02:09
7. Kerry Lang (GBR) 2:02:50
8. Alexandra Razarenova (RUS) 2:02:56
9. Jillian Petersen (USA) 2:03:15
10. Chantell Widney (CAN) 2:03:30
