Anne Haug rules Hamburg
Anne Haug’s performance at the World Triathlon Hamburg made the massive German crowd happy and kept her on top of this important draft legal triathlon series.
Caroline Routier was first out of the water in 9:25 and she had Pamela Oliveira, Anja Knapp and few others right with her. Several favorites had missed the front group and among them were series leader Anne Haug, Aussie Emma Moffatt and American Gwen Jorgensen.
The relatively tight bike course was packed with spectators and while that lead bunch may have hoped to stay away, behind them a storm was brewing. German Svenja Bazlen who recently had spent more time racing 70.3 distance events set the pace for Anne Haug and other athletes were hanging on for dear life. After a few kilometers the connection was made and that front group had grown to almost 30. Missing up front were Moffatt and Jorgensen, but neither the Aussie, nor the fast running American were likely missed by that front group. Bazlen continued to work like a pilot fish for Haug and when that lead group reached the bike run transition, the Jorgensen, Moffatt chase pack was just about a minute behind.
Jorgensen ran the quickest on the closing 5k run, but that was not enough with so many other fast runners a minute up the road. Haug, Jodie Stimpson, Non Stanford, Andrea Hewitt and Ashleigh Gentle set the pace up front and ran together until Haug exploded away from the competition with less than 1km before the finish. Her closing 16:05 run brought the German home in 57:21 and allowed her to extend the lead in the World Triathlon Series.
"I was afraid to look back, I just kept pushing as hard as I could," said Haug. "I have to say a big, big thank you to Svenja. She protected me from everyone on the bike. She did an amazing job."
Coach Darren Smith not only had the winner with Anne Haug, but also the final podium spot with Jodie Stimpson and we would think that he was quite pleased.
It was in fact 2 Brits who filled out the podium. WTS Madrid champion Non Stanford beat Stimpson to the line in 57:35 and the podium here in Hamburg was a fine juxtapose of the one in Madrid where, Haug and Stimpson finished 2nd and 3rd.
World Triathlon Series Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany / 20th July 2013
750m swim / 20km bike / 5km run
Top Women
1. Anne Haug (GER) 57:21
2. Non Stanford (GBR) 57:35
3. Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 57:36
4. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 57:40
5. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) 57:41
6. Gwen Jorgensewn (USA) 58:03
7. Emma Jackson (AUS) 58:12
8. Anja Knapp (GER) 58:18
9. Hanna Philippin (GER) 58:19
10. Alice Betto (ITA) 58:20
