The Rev3tri series commenced its 2010 season in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Swedish powerhouse Bjorn Andersson got right to work. Even against strong cyclists such as Chris Lieto and Matty Reed, Andersson pushed his bike forward to a lead at T2 of 1:40 on Lieto, and 2:10 on Reed.
"When Bjorn came past me there was absolutely nothing I could do, and he disappeared so fast up the road it was almost unreal," said Reed to slowtwitch.
Terenzo Bozzone watched his chief competitors from the side of the road during a stand-down for violating America's controversial stagger rule and came of the bike in 6th. Andrew Starykowicz actually came off the bike in the 4th place just in front of Cameron Dye, but after running into a police officer towards the end of the bike, his event pretty much was over. Starykowicz couldn't run and then just walked the whole 10k.
Once off the bike, Reed rocketed to the front and first reeled in Lieto before getting past the Swede. Lieto, nonplussed after suffering an uncharacteristic spanking on the bike, took a bit longer reeling in the big Nordic überbiker, finally forging past Andersson about 4 miles into the contest. But Andersson wasn't the least of his worries. The penalty notwithstanding, Bozzone first caught Dye, who actually also got a penalty, but his one was about losing a bottle and not picking it up. On those tough roads that is another kind of issue where the official should maybe had to let it go. Bozzone next caught Andersson, and with about 1/2 mile to go he caught up to Lieto, but the fleet-footed Reed was way to far in the front.
Reed took the win, Bozzone finished second and Lieto was third, and Andersson held on to fourth.
"The rolling terrain really suits me. I love hills, even though I am not as strong as I should be right now," added Reed.
Julie Dibens continued her domination of women's racing so far this early season by roundly defeating all comers. Sam Warriner had to withstand a hard charging Kelly Williamson with a late surge to eke out a second place, with Williamson third.
"I love these kind of roads and it really reminded me of riding at home in England. Really narrow roads winding up and down all over the place, and that is just great for getting out of sight. You are just riding your own race, " said Dibens. "But now I go home, recover and then Quassy is my next event. So I have about a month."
Warriner was very happy with her race and said, "We came into the transition about 20 seconds apart. I got a gap during the first half of the run and she came back in the second half and caught me pretty much in transition again. (transition was about half a mile from the finish) It then was just a case of smart racing. I am pretty pleased I was smart with my sprint. This is certainly not bad for a 38-year old one." said Warriner.
More than 800 signed up for the first-year event, which featured both a half and Oly distance race for Age Group competitors.
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The day before the race
The Rev3Tri race day
Rev3Triathlon Olympic Rev
Knoxville, TN / May 9
1.5k swim /40k bike / 10k run
Top 10 men
1. Matt Reed (USA) 1:51:55
2. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 1:52:42
3. Chris Lieto (USA) 1:52:48
4. Bjorn Andersson (SWE) 1:54:09
5. Cameron Dye (USA) 1:54:28
6. Brian Fleischmann (USA) 1:55:03
7. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 1:55:33
8. Graham O'Grady (NZL) 1:55:36
9. Jasper Blake (CAN) 1:55:49
10. Victor Zyemtsev (UKR) 1:55:56
Top 9 pro women
1. Julie Dibens (GBR) 2:03:48
2. Sam Warriner (NZL) 2:07:04
3. Kelley Williamson (USA) 2:07:06
4. Pip Taylor (AUS) n/a
5. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 2:10:00
6. Dede Griesbauer (USA) 2:11:48
7. Jessica Jacobs (USA) 2:12:50
8. Laurel Wassner (USA) 2:13:22
9. Natascha Badman (SWI) 2:13:52
