Chile’s slightly built Barbara Riveros-Diaz scored a tremendous upset outrunning 2009 WCS podium stars Andrea Hewitt and World Champ Emma Moffat at the season opening World Championship Series opener in Sydney, Australia on Sunday.
On the first of four laps on the 10km run, Riveros-Diaz, Moffat, Hewitt and Japans newcomer Mariko Adachi broke away from a pack of 36 women who arrived at T2 together at the end of a soft-paced bike. The four surged back and forth in shifting formation for the last 7 kilometers until Riveros-Diaz made moves both on the outbound uphill on Macquarie Street and the inbound downhill on Macquarie, eking out a 7-meter margin as the quartet hit the blue carpet leading to the finish.
By that point, Riveros-Diaz’s fellow ITU newcomer Adachi dropped out of the medals and the Chilean looked back to see Hewitt and Moffat too far back to challenge for the win. Riveros-Diaz relaxed and hit the line first in 2:04:19. In the final few yards, the fast sprinting Hewitt outpaced defending WCS champion Moffat for second – 2:04:19 to 2:04:20 -- with Adachi arriving 10 seconds later in 4th.
"I was a bit nervous heading into the final lap," an elated Riveros-Diaz said after the race. "I'm usually not very good at a sprint finish, but today it all worked out very well."
"We really pushed each other hard on the run," added Hewitt. "Barbara was just too tough coming down that final hill and I couldn't stay with her. She was amazing today."
After dropping back early on the run, 2009 ITU World Championship Series runner-up Lisa Norden of Sweden came on strong to take 5th in 2:04:48, with Kate Roberts of South Africa one second back in 6th.
Sarah Haskins was top American, taking 8th while losing a finish line duel with 7th place Jessica Harrison of France in identical times of 2:05:01.
While largely unknown, Riveros-Diaz is not a rookie on the World Championship Series elite circuit. Last year she posted a 19th place in Tongyeong, South Korea, 20th at Madrid, Spain, 16th at Washington D.C., 11th at the Hy-Vee World Cup, a best-ever 5th at Hamburg, a 40th at London and 35th at the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Grand Final Gold Coast.
Riveros-Diaz arrived tired and jet lagged in Sydney a few days before the race after winning the Guatape ODESUR South American Games Elite Women's Triathlon title.
2010 Dextro Energy Sydney ITU World Championship Series
Sydney Australia
April 11, 2010
S 1.5k/ B 40k/ R 10k
Women’s Results
1. Barbara Riveros-Diaz (CHI) 2:04:20
2. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 2:04:19
3. Emma Moffat (AUS) 2:04:20
4. Mariko Adachi (JPN) 2:04:30
5. Lisa Norden (SWE) 2:04:48
6. Kate Roberts (RSA) 2:04:49
7. Jessica Harrison (FRA) 2:05:01
8. Sarah Haskins (USA) 2:05:01
9. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 2:05:06
10. Vicky Holland (GBR) 2:05:16
11. Felicity Abram (AUS) 2:05:24
14. Laura Bennett (USA)
