Vidal ekes out Mooloolaba win
Laurent Vidal of France won his first ITU World Cup and prevailed over Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia and fellow Frenchman David Hauss at Mooloolaba.
On the final 2.5km lap of the run, Vidal, Kahlefeldt, Hauss, Mario Mola of Spain and Brendan Sexton of Australia were tightly bunched. Sexton was the first to drop back, then Mola as the men hit the 400 km finishing chute.
"I've been racing Mooloolaba a couple of times so I know you have to be a little bit conservative on the course so I gave it all on the last 400 meters because I knew Brad was a pretty strong finisher," Vidal told ITU media after the race.
Vidal dedicated his win to his adopted home of Christchurch, New Zealand. "I work half of the year with the Kiwis,” Vidal told ITU media. “I live in Christchurch for half the year with Andrea (Hewitt, of New Zealand), my girlfriend. We've had some devastation with the earthquake so I'm happy today to give them (the people of Christchurch) a little bit of this victory because I'm 49 per-cent Kiwi.”
Vidal’s win was the fourth first World Cup win for French athletes in the last six months. He joins Jessica Harrison, Carole Peon and Etienne Diemunsch in making that significant career breakthrough in ITU Olympic style racing.
Vidal, defending Mooloolaba champion Kahlefeldt and last year’s bronze medalist Hauss went 1-2-3 and were all timed in 1:53:22. Kahlefeldt just missed a 4-peat as he had won the previous 3 World Cups at Mooloolaba but did earn his 6th Australian National Championship.
Mola’s 4th place finish, six seconds back of the podium finishers, was a significant finish in Spain’s attempt to secure three Olympic men’s starts, with Clarke finishing 5th another 9 seconds back. Steffen Justus’ 6th place finish and Sebastian Rank’s 7th place also gave a boost to Germany’s campaign to secure three men’s slots at London.
Australian James Seear led out of the one lap ocean swim, but a pack of 25 quickly formed on the first lap of the bike. On the second lap, a chase pack led by Brendan Sexton caught the leaders, and then another pack led by Chris McCormack also joined the parade as the lead pack grew to 40. On the final lap, Ryosuke Yamamoto, Bryce McMaster, James Seear and Jack Hickey made a small break and had a 20-seconds lead coming into T2.
Vidal, Kahlefeldt, Hauss and Mola quickly caught the first pack and halfway through the run it was an 8-man lead group which also included Sebastian Rank, Steffen Justus and William Clarke.
After his heroics early on the bike, two-time Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack dropped out.
Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup
Mooloolaba, Australia
March 24, 2012
S 1.5k / B 40k / R 10k
Results
Elite Men
1. Laurent Vidal (FRA) 1:53:22
2. Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) 1:53:22
3. David Hauss (FRA) 1:53:22
4. Mario Mola (ESP) 1:53:28
5. Brendan Sexton (AUS) 1:53:37
6. Steffen Justus (GER) 1:53:52
7. Sebastian Rank (GER) 1:53:55
8. Kyle Jones (CAN) 1:54:09
9. William Clarke (GBR) 1:54:16
10. Maik Petzold (GER) 1:54:20
26. Gregory Billington (USA) 1:55:39
31. Ethan Brown (USA) 1:56:21
32. Ben Collins (USA) 1:56:36
DNF Chris McCormack (AUS)
