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MONTGOMERY AND GAAG RULE IN RIO
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 26 March 2000
ITU Pao de Acucar Triathlon World, Rio de Janeiro
On Rio's renowned Copacabana beach beneath the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain, Canadian Carol Montgomery and Kazakhstan's Dimitry Gaag won the inaugural race of the 2000 ITU Triathlon World Cup Circuit - 'The Pao de Acucar Triathlon World Cup'.
Amongst a field of 89 athletes from 23 different countries Montgomery and Gaag took gold medals in hot, humid conditions. With just four remaining World Cup races from which to collect valuable points towards qualification for the Sydney Olympic Games, the competition in Rio was bound to be intense with over 100,000 spectators on hand to soak up the excitement and the sunshine.
Following a close swim, a pack of top women including Magali Messmer (SUI), Sian Brice (GBR), Mariana Ohata (BRA), Carol Montgomery and American Kristin Armstrong formed a strong group on the bike. By the end of the bike Armstrong's cycling prowess proved greater than the rest as she pulled ahead by 40 seconds. Armstrong carried this lead into the run, however, Montgomery, back in action for the first time since undergoing major surgery to repair a blocked artery in her leg in December, quickly stormed to the front. Run specialists Stephanie Forrester (GBR) and home favourite Carla Moreno (BRA) also pulled ahead on the run to take second and third places respectively behind Montgomery's convincing victory. Brice and Messmer ran neck and neck for 10km to take fourth and fifth. Today's win marks Montgomery's third World Cup victory in Brazil, having taking both titles on the 1996 ITU Circuit in Rio and Ilheus-Bahia. The win also secures her qualification for the Canadian Olympic team for Sydney.
In the men's race, swim specialists Ricky Jorgensen (DEN) and Richard Stannard (GBR) came out ahead, but were closely followed by Andriy Glushchenko (UKR) and Simon Whitfield (CAN). This group along with reigning World Champion Dimitry Gaag (KAZ) and Peter Alder (SUI) formed the lead group on the bike and established a commanding lead of over two minutes heading into the final transition. Whitfield and Gaag shot out of the transition ahead of the pack and ran shoulder-to-shoulder for the first two laps before Gaag pulled away. Meanwhile Jose Merchan (ESP) and Glushchenko continued to challenge for third and fourth spot. In the end Gaag proved his fitness, finishing 24 seconds ahead of Whitfield, who narrowly out sprinted Glushchenko.
The next stop on the 2000 ITU Triathlon World Cup Circuit is in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, where athletes will continue the hunt for World Cup points and Olympic qualification.
Top 10 Results
Women
1.. Montgomery, Carol (CAN)=20
2.. Forrester, Stephanie (GBR)
3.. Moreno, Carla (BRA)
4.. Brice, Sian (GBR)
5.. Messmer, Magali (SUI)
6.. Ohata, Mariana (BRA)
7.. Turcotte Baird, Isabelle (CAN)
8.. Blanco, Maribel (ESP)
9.. Derks Gardner, Gina (USA)
10.. Van Lubek, Ingrid (NED)
Men
1.. Gaag, Dimitry (KAZ)
2.. Whitfield, Simon (GBR)
3.. Glushchenko, Andriy (UKR)
4.. Merchan, Jose (ESP)
5.. Kuttor, Csaba (HUN)
6.. Eggert, Ralf (GER)
7.. Knoll, Ronald (GER)
8.. Willen, Joachim (SWE)
9.. Alder, Peter (SUI)
10.. Rana, Ivan (ESP)
For complete results and photos from Rio, check out the ITU website |
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