Findlay upset winner at London WCS
Canadian newcomer Paula Findlay sprinted away from veteran Olympians Nicola Spirig, Helen Jenkins and Andrea Hewitt in a stretch duel to win at Round 5 of the World Championship Series at London Saturday.
The red-headed 21-year-old ran a race-best 33:51 for the final 10k to take the win on the 2012 Olympic course in a time of 1:51:48.
Findlay, who earlier this year won an ITU World Cup event in Monterrey, Mexico and finished a surprise fourth place at the million-dollar Hy-Vee World Cup in Iowa, took the gold in her very first try at the prestigious Dextro Energy World Championship Series. Findlay’s surge starting with 500 meters to go topped defending London champion Nicola Spirig of Switzerland by three seconds, 2008 ITU World Champion Helen Jenkins of Great Britain by 5 seconds and Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand by 7 seconds.
“I never thought I could beat them,” said a breathless Findlay to ITU after her finish. “I just hoped for a podium spot. When I made a surge I looked back a few times and ran my heart out to keep the gap and I did.”
Defending champion Nicola Spirig said the race was hard for her as she was ill at last week’s race in Hamburg.
“The race was hard for me today,” said Spirig, who won Round 3 of the Dextro Energy World Championship Series in Madrid June 5 with a similar sprint. “I decided to take a risk to stay with the lead runners on the first lap no matter how hard the pace. After one and a half laps, the pace got a little easier. I am very happy to be on the podium again after such a hard race.”
Helen Jenkins, the top home country finisher in third place, said “I’m not the best sprinter, so I tried hard to make a break after the halfway point of the run, but they stayed with me. I’m happy to make the podium.”
In fact, the top two finishers at Hamburg showed the ill effects of their hard effort six days ago as Emma Moffat finished 9th and Lisa Norden finished 26th in London.
Still, Moffatt retained a slim lead in the 2010 Dextro Energy World Championship points standings with just one more round to go at Kitzbuhel, Austria before the Grand Final at Budapest.
Laura Bennett of the USA continued her strong return to the ITU circuit with a 5th place finish, 46 seconds back of the winner. Fellow American Sarah Groff also continued her strong mid season surge, taking 12th after an 8th place finish at Hamburg.
Top ranked American woman Sarah Haskins showed her world class form on the swim and the bike, arriving in T2 just one second out of the lead. But persistent lingering ankle problems forced Haskins to withdraw on the run.
Other US women finishers were Jillian Peterson 17th, Alicia Kaye 37th and Jenna Shoemaker 40th.
Three-time ITU World Champion and 2008 Olympic champ Emma Snowsill still seems to be recovering from her 8-month long injury and illness hiatus. Despite winning the $200,000 top check at Hy-Vee last month, Snowsill remains on the comeback trail after taking 26th at Hamburg and recording a DNF at London after another slow swim left her in a rather hapless chase group on the bike that finished 1:52 back of a 24-women lead bike pack.
Early season points leader Barbara Riveros Diaz of Chile, after taking off Hamburg to rest and recoup her strength, could only manage 22nd place, and Mariko Adachi of Japan, another Dextro Energy WCS points contender, was 30th.
Related image gallery
Dextro Energy ITU London WCS women's race gallery
Dextro Energy World Championship Series Round 5
London, England
July 24, 2010
S 1.5k/ B 40k/ R 10k
Women’s Elite results
1. Paula Findlay (CAN) 1:51:48
2. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1:51:51
3. Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1:51:53
4. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 1:51:55
5. Laura Bennett (USA) 1:52:34
6. Vicky Holland (GBR) 1:52:39
7. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 1:52:45
8. Kate Roberts (RSA) 1:53:04
9. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 1:53:12
10. Akane Tsuchihashi (JPN) 1:53:24
12. Sarah Groff (USA) 1:53:35
16. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 1:53:55
17. Jillian Peterson (USA) 1:54:05
22. Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI) 1:54:59
26 Lisa Norden (SWE)
30. Mariko Adachi (JPN)
37. Alicia Kaye (USA) 1:56:30
40. Jenna Shoemaker (USA) 1:56:59
45. Kirsten Sweetland (CAN) 1:58:18
