You don’t need to go long to be an endurance athlete. Just ask the very wet and exhausted World Cup triathletes in Colombia and the strong-stomach drinkers with a running problem on Kailua-Kona, plus more tidbits from Kona.
Nicola Spirig and Pierre Le Corre win Cartegna ITU World Cup
Nicola Spirig of Switzerland, the 2012 Olympic champion, fought off a challenge from Paula Findlay of Canada to win the elite women's title and Frenchman Pierre Le Corre topped 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Sven Riederer of Switzerland to win the men's elite gold at the ITU World Cup in Cartegna, Colombia.
The Women
Switzerland's 2012 Olympic gold medalist Nicola Spirig continued her win streak after returning to ITU competition this season, holding off a strong surge by Canada's Paula Findlay, who is also returning to racing after several season lost to injury.
During a tight, front-pack bike leg, Anja Knapp of Germany took the lead entering T2 with Spirig and Findlay not far behind. On the second lap of the run, Findlay took the lead, but Spirig fought back and crossed the line first for her second win in as many weeks - following her World Cup win at Cozumel. Spirig won despite suffering a suspected insect sting early in the race.
I just felt something hurt, said Spirig. It could have been on the bike or in the ocean. It certainly wasn't a bee - but it was huge.
Findlay finished as runner-up her second encouraging ITU finish since she started working with coach Siri Lindley. I just needed extra speedy the end that I don't have yet, said Findlay.
Riding in a downpour, Lindsey Jerdonek of the U.S. crashed on the first corner of the bike, badly grazing her thigh, and retired after one more lap.
The Men
Unworried by the torrential rain that hit the World Cup at Cartegna Sunday, Pierre Le Corre of France won gold ahead of Sven Riederer of Switzerland and Le Corre's countryman Dorian Coninx.
Le Corre finished in a rapid 1:45:40 on the flat, seaside course despite a heavy rain shower that hit on the second lap of the bike, tumbling roadside barriers.
We (Le Corre and Coninx) wanted it to rain, to make it easier for us, but we had be careful on the turns not to fall off, said Le Corre. Riederer finished in 1:46:09 and Coninx in 1:46:17.
It was a lot of fun and great to finish to finish second in my last World Cup race of the year, said Riederer.
Asked if the race should have been stopped because of the rain, Riederer said, Nobody
would have been able to stop the athletes from finishing. Besides, he added, I don’t like the heat, like in Cozumel last week. Riederer finished 40th in Cozumel's sizzling temperatures.
Cartegna World Cup
Cartegna, Colombia
October 11-12, 2014
S 1.5k / B 40k / R 10 k
Results
Women
1. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1:55:21
2. Paula Findlay (CAN) 1:55:30
3. Katrien Verstuyft (BEL) 1:55:46
4. Lisa Perterer (AUT) 1:56:08
5. Anahi Leon (MEX) 1:56:41
7. Johanna Gartman (USA) 1:57:087
32. Summer Cook (USA) 2:01:36
DNF Lindsey Jerdonek (USA), Kaitlin Donner (USA)
Men
1. Pierre Le Corre (FRA) 1:45:40
2. Sven Riederer (SUI) 1:46:09
3. Dorian Coninx (FRA) 1:46:17
4. Alexander Bryukhankov (RUS) 1:46:25
5. Felipe Barraza (CHL) 1:46:39
7. Hunter Kemper (USA) 1:46:47
8. William Huffman (USA) 1:47:07
13. Matt Chrabot (USA) 1:48:30
42. Ian Boggs (USA) 1:53:12
43. Jason Pedersen (USA) 1:53:15
DNF Sean Jefferson (USA) Jarrod Shoemaker (USA)
Proud and supportive in-laws
These happy and super friendly folks here are not the parental units of Jan Frodeno, nor are they from Germany. They are Aussies, and they are the parents of the legendary fast Emma Snowsill - here in Kona to support Jan Frodeno.
SRAM/Zipp neutral race support
The Pro fields get technically supported by these fine folks who likely feel like they are in a sauna all day. But they try to make sure that a mechanical is not the end of a day for someone who has prepared a full year for this big event.
The distinctive Kona Pro lead car
The red and white MINI with the race clock and the Timex logo signals to spectators that the race action is not far behind, and is a great marketing tool for MINI and Timex. Many race reports from the GoPro Ironman World Championships will feature at the very least some glimpses of the car.
The fantastic volunteers
Nothing would happen in Kona (or any other race site) without the passionate help from volunteers. For this we say thank you, thank you and thank you. And always remember to tell them too.
A.J. Baucco wins Kona Beer Mile in 6:25
Already yearly end-of-the-season rituals for many iconic triathlon communities - including Boulder, Bend and Encinitas - triathlon pundit, The Real Starky and Dark Mark hosted the first ever Kona Beer Mile. On the evening of the Ironman World Championships, and with an invitation only field assembled at a top secret location within a few miles of the Kailua-Kona Pier to find out who would be crowned champion.
This unique endurance event consisted of each competitor consuming four beers and running four one-quarter mile laps of a circuit, typically on a track. Entrants for the inaugural Kona Beer Mile included 2x Hy-Vee Triathlon winner Rasmus Henning, 4x Wildflower winner Jesse Thomas, Ironman Chattanooga champ Matt Hanson and was emceed by the most decorated X Games superstar, and recently turned triathlete, Dave Mirra and The Real Starky.
Kona Beer Mile
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
October 10, 2014
Four laps totaling one mile
Results
1. A.J. Baucco (USA) 6:25
2. Nicholas Van Dam (USA) 6:32
3. Jesse Thomas (USA) 6:37
4. Matt Hanson (USA) 6:42
5. James Seear (AUS) 6:58
DNF Rasmus Henning (DNK)
HUUB Wetsuits edited the video below commemorating the Kona Beer Mile.
