Matt Reed overcame a one minute deficit to swim-bike sensation Benjamin Sanson with a solid bike and a 33:27 10km final run to take the second Escape to Bermuda Olympic distance triathlon Sunday.
"The conditions were perfect for me," Reed, who finished third last year, told the Hamilton (Bermuda) Royal Gazette. "There wasn't much wind on the bike and it was a bit cooler than the last one. So the heat wasn't a factor as opposed to last year. I like cooler conditions."
Reed said that he felt sluggish at the start of the swim. "I let some of the guys I should have been keeping up with get ahead slightly," said Reed. "But halfway through the swim, I came good and started to warm up a bit and lead the chase pack in. I broke through on the ride and held a 30-second gap. On the run, I felt in good enough shape to hold that mark and that is what happened."
Great Britain's Jodie Swallow broke out of a tight, race-long duel with American Sarah Groff with the women's strongest run to take the title by 79 seconds. Their battle was temporarily interrupted by a late bike charge by American Mary Beth Ellis. But once the grueling run on a hilly course started, Swallow took charge for the win and Groff re-passed Ellis. Groff then held off a late race charge to finish second by 10 seconds ahead of defending Escape to Bermuda champion Becky Lavelle, who took third.
"I could see Sarah during the swim, and on to the bike Sarah and I had a battle," Swallow told the Royal Gazette. "I don't know how far ahead I was on the bike until Mary Beth Ellis came past me. In the end I thought I had enough to make the break and it paid off."
Escape To Bermuda Triathlon
Parish of Saint George, Bermuda
November 2, 2008
Results
Men
1. Matt Reed (USA) 1:55:10
2. Simon Thompson (AUS) 1:55:25
3. Michael Raelert (GER) 1:55:49
4. Chris McCormack (AUS) 1:56:31
5. Brian Fleischmann (USA) 1:58:04
Women
1. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 2:05:56
2. Sarah Groff (USA) 2:07:15
3. Becky Lavelle (USA) 2:07:25
4. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 2:07:26
5. Andrea Whitcombe (GBR) 2:10:15
