Post and Wasle win Flassin ITU World Cup
In Flassin, Italy on the site of the 2007 Winter Tri World Championships, Arne Post of Norway dominated the 2008 ITU Winter Triathlon World Cup and in the women's race Austria's Carina Wasle narrowly defeated Anke Kullmann of Germany.
Under beautiful sunny skies the Elite men started their race and 2007 ITU Winter World Triathlon Champion Arne Post led all runners back into T1. He had gapped his biggest rival Sigi Bauer by almost a minute and was quickly out on the bike pursued by Tomaz Dolezal (CZE) and Peter Vlana (ITA). Dolezal would come back into T2 first with the fastest bike split of the day but Bauer had also shown his bike prowess and came into T2 ahead of Post. Once on the skis though Post was not going to be denied and he clearly outclassed all his competitors and crossed the finish line in first place in 01:16:41. Bauer narrowly held on to second place in a time of 01:17:51 just ahead of Dolezal who finished third in a time of 01:17:55.
In the women's race Carina Wasle immediately took charge on the run and as she entered T1 only Italy's Stefania Bonazzi was able to stay in touch. Once on the bikes Bonazzi pulled away but she would have needed a massive gap on Wasle to hold her off on the skis. That was not the case and soon on the skis Wasle was in the lead followed closely by Anke Kullmann. Kullmann would have the fastest ski split but that was only good enough for second place and a total time of 01:32:09. Wasle held on to the title in a time of 01:31:50 and Giuliana Lamastra (ITA) finished in third in a time of 01:34:25.
Top 10 Elite men
1. Arne Post (NOR) 01:16:41
2. Sigi Bauer (AUT) 01:17:51
3. Tomaz Dolezal (CZE) 01:17:55
4. Andreas Svanebo (SWE) 1:18:11
5. Daniel Antonioli (ITA) 1:18:14
6. Pavel Jindra (CZE) 1:18:50
7. Nicolas Lebrun (FRA) 1:19:05
8. Oswald Weisenhorn (ITA) 1:19:30
9. Peter Vlana (ITA) 1:20:03
10. Walter Polla (ITA) 1:21:26
Top 5 Elite women
1. Carina Wasle (AUT) 01:31:50
2. Anke Kullmann (GER) 01:32:09
3. Giuliana Lamastra (ITA) 01:34:25
4. Sarka Grabmullerova (CZE) 1:34:45
5. Stefania Bonazzi (ITA) 1:35:00
The women's podium
