The City of Edinburgh got what it hoped for this weekend when home-town girl, Catriona Morrison, stormed to victory at the 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships. The senior men’s race was dominated by the Belgians, who finished 1-2-3 with Bart Aernouts claiming the gold.
Gwen Jorgensen (USA) made the early running in the elite women’s race as expected, but dropped back to the leaders before starting the tough seven lap bike course around Arthur’s Seat.
Morrison was quick to form a lead in a pack that gradually whittled down to just two riders, herself and Sandra Levenez of France. It was Morrison that did all the work until she slowed to walking pace, forcing Levenez ahead of her with two laps remaining. On the final 5km run Morrison broke away and was never caught, with time to celebrate her fourth Duathlon world title as she crossed the line in 2:02.48.
Levenez held on for silver, to repeat her finishing position from last year, and Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (AUS) was delighted with third.
Morrison said: ‘I just made her (Levenez) do some work and I was hoping that her legs were more trashed than mine. It feels pretty good to be World Champion!’
The appearance of the Belgian men’s team was greatly anticipated by the crowd. The late Benny Vansteelant won here last time duathlon came to Edinburgh for the 2007 ETU European Championships, and his brother, Joerie rode straight to the front of the bike leg and formed an impressive Belgian team with Bart Aernouts and Rob Woestenborghs.
On to the final run Aernouts and Woestenborghs broke away from Vansteelant. Sportingly Aernouts stayed with Woestenborghs as he faded on the final lap, but Woestenborghs pushed him forward as they approached the finish line and Aernouts took the win. Vansteelant held on for bronze with a 36 second cushion to Spain’s Victor Morales in fourth.
Despite looking like a well drilled team, the Belgian’s had never trained together prior to this event, but had planned to make a decisive move on the bike leg.
Aernouts said: ‘I knew the course because I raced in 2007 when I was the U23 European Champion. To come back and win in the elites is a great moment for me’
Adam Bowden was the first of the eight GE Great Britain Team men racing. He finished seventh, with Richard Hobby tenth. Other British competitor’s results are below.
The GE Great Britain Team had further success in the team events, winning women’s gold and men’s bronze. Morrison, Katie Ingram (who finished an impressive 6th) and Sophie Coleman combined for the women’s overall title and Bowden, Hobby and Gunby made up the men’s medal winning squad.
In the under 23 events there was more success for Great Britain with a win for Sophie Coleman in the women’s race. Coleman was the World Junior Champion in both 2008 and 2009 and demonstrated that she is just as good over the longer distance Under 23 event.
It was team mate, Lois Rosindale who had set the early pace, but a dropped water bottle on the bike leg caused her to dehydrate on the run. However, she held on for an excellent silver medal. Alice Capone of Italy was third.
Coleman said: ‘I just couldn’t really believe it, after such a mixed year. To be able to come back and win this title in a new age group is cool.’
In the men’s Under 23 event it was France’s Etienne Diemunsch who claimed gold, actually crossing the line in eighth place overall as the elite and under 23 competitors raced together over the tough course.
Britain’s Matt Gunby was second, winning an excellent silver medal in 1:54.27 and Oscar Vicente of Spain was third. Gunby said: ‘I was just hanging on on the bike. I was surprised how quickly I got going on the run. I got the silver which is fantastic!’
In the junior events there were wins for Sofie Hooghe of Belgium and Uxio Abuin ares of Spain. Britain’s Eli Thorogood was fourth in the women’s event whilst David Bishop and Sam Chambers were 12th and 18th.
RESULTS
Elite Women:
1. Catriona Morrison (GBR) 2:02:47
2. Sandra Levenez (FRA) 2:03:05
3. Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (AUS) 2:06:14
6. Katie Ingram (GBR) 2:07:10
Elite Men:
1. Bart Aernouts (BEL) 1:50:22
2. Rob Woestenborghs (BEL) 1:50:24
3. Joerie Vansteelant (BEL) 1:50:30
7. Adam Bowden (GBR) 1:53:38
10. Richard Hobby (GBR) 1:54:16
Women’s team event:
1. Great Britain
2. USA
3. Japan
Men’s Team Event:
1. Belgium
2. France
3. Great Britain
Under 23 Women:
1. Sophie Coleman GBR 2:15:02
2. Lois Rosindale GBR 2:15:56
3. Alice Capone ITA 2:20:41
Under 23 Men:
1. Etienne Diemunsch FRA 1:53:33
2. Matthew Gunby GBR 1:54:27
3. Oscar Vicente ESP 1:56:01
5. Ritchie Nicholls GBR 1:57:44
7. Mark Threlfall GBR 1:58:41
10. Phil Wolfe GBR 2:04:42
Junior Women:
1. Sofie Hooghe BEL 1:12:44
2. Marjon Van der wansem NED 1:13:32
3. Liis-grete Arro EST 1:16:15
4. Elinor Thorogood GBR 1:16:55
Junior Men:
1. Uxio Abuin ares ESP 1:03:52
2. Michael Gosman AUS 1:04:02
3. Jose luis Cordova MEX 1:04:08
12. David Bishop GBR 1:04:48
18. Samuel Chambers GBR 1:06:58
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