Nov. 6, 2006 -- Anja Dittmer of Germany and Spain's Javier Gomez won the 2006 BG Triathlon World Cup in Cancun, Mexico, on Nov. 5. Dittmer was ecstatic to make it to the podium for the first this season, while Gomez could not believe he has now solidified the 2006 World Cup title and the lion's share of the US$250,000 bonus pool.
In the women's event, Dittmer's time of 2:01:52 was only 11 seconds faster then her German teammate Joelle Franzmann, who was able to finish in second place. Rounding out the podium a further 14 seconds back was Andrea Whitcombe from Great Britain.
"This is my first World Cup win for two years. The last one was actually here in Cancun, so I am really happy that I was able to win today," said Dittmer who, despite three silver medals this year, has not had a World Cup victory since 2004. "It is really hard to win a World Cup since Vanessa [Fernandes] has been here, but now I am really happy that I could win today."
Eighty-two women from 28 countries entered the water under dark skies to start the 15th event of the 2006 BG Triathlon World Cup series. Choppy waters and a strong current made for slower than usual swim times over the opening 1,500-meter swim. At the end of the two-lap swim it was a small lead group of four athletes, including current world junior champion Kirsten Sweetland from Canada, fourth ranked Laura Bennett and her teammate Sarah Haskins from the United States and Machiko Nakanishi from Japan.
Less then 10 seconds behind was a large string of women including Dittmer, Franzmann, Whitcombe, Ainhoa Murua (ESP), Ricarda Lisk (GER), Leanda Cave (GBR), Julie Swail (USA) and Flora Duffy (BER). Out on the flat and fast 40-kilometer bike course a lead group of 18 women formed at the front as the skies opened up to batter the athletes with torrential rain.
"This morning I saw lightening, and I was really worried," commented the 2004 world cup champion Dittmer. "But on the race there was just rain. It was really wet and wild on the bike."
Over the eight-lap bike course this lead group continued to put time into the large chase pack despite menacing conditions. The chase group, containing some of the tour's strongest runners, including fifth-ranked Lauren Groves of Canada and recent team world champion member Nadia Cortassa of Italy, had fallen behind by over 60 seconds heading into transition two.
Out onto the four-lap, 10-kilometer run course, a group of six women, including the three eventual podium finishers, moved quickly to the front and worked well together, feeding off each other for the first five kilometers of the run. It was at the end of the second lap that the two Germans made their move, breaking away from the group.
"I tried to run away from the group, and then on the third loop Anja saw this and came to the front so we could run together," commented Franzmann. "I know that Anja is a strong sprinter so I didn't try to win as she is so strong. I am happy with second place."
Into the last kilometer it was the Dittmer who managed to pull away and cruised to the finish to take the top podium spot. Franzmann was able to secure her second place in the overall ranking with her silver medal, soon to take home her share of the year-end US$250,000 bonus pool.
"I have never had this success before and have never had such a good season as this year, said Franzmann of her three second place finishes and a win. "I am very proud and hope to improve for next year ahead of the Olympics."
Whitcombe battled with fourth place Murua over the last 300 meters, managing to overcome the quick Spaniard to claim the bronze medal.
Gomez powers to the winIn the men's event, Gomez's time of 1:48:32 was 10 seconds quicker then his next closest rival, Filip Ospaly of the Czech Republic, and third place Volodymyr Polikarpenko of Ukraine finished a further 10 seconds behind Ospaly.
"It is an amazing feeling. For me, this is the most important World Cup victory," stated the 23-year-old Spanish student. "With this race I have the top World Cup ranking. I can't believe that I am the number one in the world."
Gomez's third win of the season gave him the guaranteed overall title and a year-end bonus check of US$40,000, as next ranked competitor, Hunter Kemper of the U.S., did not manage to finish within the top 10.
"Last week I was training in Miami in the same conditions with high humidity. But it was good preparation, and here I could give 100 percent, and I could win," said Gomez. "This race was hard, and I would like to thank all of the people who supported us here today. With this weather it was very important for us to feel the support of the crowd."
Despite the heavy rain and winds during the women's races earlier in the day, the clouds let up for the start of the men's event as 92 men entered the Caribbean Sea for the start of the two-lap, 1,500-meter swim. Despite a non-wetsuit swim, it was a large group of men to exit the swim and head out on the eight-lap, 40-kilometer bike course.
After only two laps, the many smaller packs merged into one large group of 60 athletes. In there were all the top contenders including Gomez, Ospaly, Polikarpenko, Kemper, Frederic Belaubre (FRA), Jan Frodeno (GER), who would later pull out due to a flat tire, Ivan Raña (ESP), Simon Whitfield (CAN) and young Jarrod Shoemaker (USA).
This would mean that the podium would be decided on a flat and breezy 10-kilometer run course. Early into the four-lap run it was Gomez, Ospaly, Polikarpenko, Raña and Tony Moulai of France moving to the front and taking a 10-second lead over the rest of the field.
These four would run together for the next two laps, but at the five-kilometer mark it was the young Gomez who would turn the pressure up and run away from the other four. Ospaly and Polikarpenko were the only two to respond, putting a significant gap between themselves and the remaining two. Ospaly ran away from Polikarpenko over the last kilometer to claim his first World Cup podium in over a year.
"In the beginning of the season this year, I suffered from two flat tires in South Africa and the European championships. This was bad for my mental state," explained Ospaly on his lack of podiums in 2006. "I took some time out but wasn't able to regain my fitness in time for the world championships. But then in Beijing it was good and with some more good training results I have had a good result today."
Raña and Moulai would eventually be caught by past under-23 world champion Shoemaker, allowing Shoemaker to take fourth position and valuable Olympic qualifying points.
2006 Cancun BG Triathlon World CupCancun, MexicoNov. 5, 20061.5km S/40km B/10km RWomen:1. DITTMER, Anja (GER) 2:01:52
2. FRANZMANN, Joelle (GER) 2:02:03
3. WHITCOMBE, Andrea (GBR) 2:02:17
4. MURUA, Ainhoa (ESP) 2:02:22
5. SWAIL, Julie (USA) 2:02:24
6. DUFFY, Flora (BER) 2:02:28
7. PEON, Carol (FRA) 2:02:41
8. LISK, Ricarda (GER) 2:02:47
9. HASKINS, Sarah (USA) 2:02:52
10. NAKANISHI, Machiko (JPN) 2:03:12
Men:1. GOMEZ, Javier (ESP) 1:47:32
2. OSPALY, Filip (CZE 1:47:42
3. POLIKARPENKO, Volodymyr (UKR) 1:47:52
4. SHOEMAKER, Jarrod (USA) 1:48:11
5. FLEURETON, Cedric (FRA) 1:48:18
6. WHITFIELD, Simon (CAN) 1:48:22
7. PAIS, Bruno (POR) 1:48:23
8. DA SILVA, Antonio (BRA) 1:48:25
9. RANA, Ivan (ESP) 1:48:29
10. SAPUNOV, Daniil (KAZ) 1:48:33