Watch the video highlights from the women’s race
Watch the video highlights from the men’s race
Suunto Ambassadors Helen Jenkins (GBR) and Javier Gomez (ESP) picked up strong top five finishes at the third round of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Dextro Energy World Championship Series held in Madrid on June 5-6.
Jenkins was third behind Nicola Spirig (SUI) and Emmie Charayron (FRA) in the women’s race while Gomez showed he is well on the comeback trail after early season injury, finishing fourth behind winner Alastair Brownlee (GBR).
Athletes had to cope with extreme heat and a technical bike course. The 1.5km swim took place in 26°C water and the five kilometre cycling loop, ridden eight times, featured a tough climb and tricky descent where speeds, measured by Suunto technology, reached 69km/h.
Jenkins avoided a crash in the final metres of the bike section and headed out on the 10km run with a large lead group.
With Spirig pushing the pace, six athletes including Jenkins went clear. On the final of four laps, Spirig again upped the tempo and only Jenkins and Charayon were able to match the 28-year-old Swiss. In the dying metres Sprig kicked once more to win in 2hr 6min 1sec, with Charayon four seconds behind and Jenkins a further four in arrears.
“It was pretty hot out there today, but I felt great on the bike,” Jenkins, who trains with a Suunto t6c heart rate monitor, said. “I’ve blown up on the run in the last couple of races, so I just kept telling myself to hang in there, but I just couldn’t stay with Nicola. She was too good today.”
For Gomez competing in his home race, the pressure was on. The injury had hampered his training, but after a solid 12th place at the previous WCS race in Seoul, his performance in Madrid shows he is back on form.
A group of 11 athletes including Gomez escaped the pack on the sixth lap of the bike leg and by the second transition held a 1min 30sec lead over the chasers.
At the beginning of the run leg, Australian Courtney Atkinson and Brownlee immediately established a 10 second lead over chasers Gomez and Sven Riederer (SUI). For 7.5km the gap remained the same giving hope to the thousands of Spanish fans willing Gomez on for a home victory.
Brownlee, also returning to competition after injury, had other plans. He raised his speed and opened a gap on the Australian, putting more time into Gomez and Riederer in the process. The 22-year-old finished in 1hr 52min 41sec, with Atkinson 10 seconds behind in second, Riederer in third and Gomez fourth, 36 seconds back.
Suunto Ambassador and winner of the Seoul WCS race, Jan Frodeno (GER) was one of the big names who missed the split. He rallied on the run however, finishing a creditable sixth with the second fastest run time of the day.
The next round of the WCS will be in Hamburg on July 17-18.
Images by Delly Carr/ triathlon.org