Swedish star Andreas Svanebo and American Rebecca Dussault won the gold at the ITU Winter Triathlon World Championship in Eidsvoll, Norway, denying a strong contingent of Norwegians victory on home snow.
Dussault, of Gunnison Colorado became, the first non-European athlete in 14 years to capture gold at the ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships Saturday when she outdistanced
runner-up Tatiana Charochkina of Russia by nearly two minutes.
Dussault, who took bronze at last year’s ITU Winter World Championships and won the last two USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championships, led wire to wire and finished in a time of 1:19:47 in the run-bike-cross country ski event, bettering silver medalist Charochkina by 1 minute 47 seconds and bronze medalist Hanne Tronnes of Norway by 1 minute 53 seconds.
"I was really happy today, as I've come over a couple of times and seemed to be plagued with bad luck," said Dussault after the race. "Last week I had a flat tire, and last year at world championships I had a problem with my skis, but today I put it all together and I finally have the win. It's wonderful."
Dussault, who represented USA at the 2006 Winter Olympics in cross country skiing, and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic games, and fellow American Emma Garrand broke into a lead after the opening 6km run leg. Coming into the first transition, it was Garrard and Dussault followed 25 seconds back by the Under 23 Russian Yulia Surikova. Defending champion Carina Wasle of Austria was a further 20 seconds back and looked to be struggling.
On the bike, Garrard suffered a flat and fell to 7th. Dussault, maintained the lead from the Surikova, who was later disqualified for receiving nutrition from outside a designated zone during the bike leg.
On the final lap of the bike, Dussault broke away from the Russian, having about a 50 meter lead into transition two. Norwegian Hannes Tronnes was a minute behind the leaders followed by Wasle, and European Champion Marthe Myhre a further 30 seconds back.
Dussault extended her lead to a minute with a quick transition, and the American began the final leg in control. Coming from way behind, Tatiana Charaochkina, a relatively unknown Russian athlete, clocked the fastest ski of the day, making her way into second position. Hanne Tronnes held on to third spot to claim bronze, with Marthe Myhre took 4th.
On the men's side, Brian Smith (Gunnison, Colo.) placed 12th for the U.S. with a time of 1:14:14.
Norway came into the men's race winning the previous three World Championship titles, with both Tor Halvor Bjornstad and Arne Post looking to perform well in front of their home crowd. However three time European Champion Andreas Svanebo took the lead after the first lap on the bike, and never looked back to win his first ever world title over the reigning world champion Tor Halvor Bjornstad who had to settle for silver. Russian Pavel Andreev took the bronze medal in a repeat of his European Championship performance one week earlier.
"I felt pretty good during the race, the run was just ok, but the bike was amazing for me", Svanebo told ITU media after the race. "I was in excellent shape for today's race and I'm delighted with the win."
14th ITU Winter Triathlon World Championship
Eidsvoll,. Norway
February 13, 2010
6km run (3 laps), 10km bike (4 laps), 9km ski (3 laps)
Women
1. Rebecca Dussault (USA) 1:19:47
2. Tatiana Charochkina (RUS) 1:21:34
3. Hanne Trønnes (NOR) 1:21:40
4. Marthe Myhre (NOR) 1:21:40
5. Olga Vostrukhova (RUS) 1:24:29
6. Ksenia Chernykh (RUS) 1:24:42
7. Emma Garrand (USA) 1:24:47
8. Sarka Grabmullerova (CZE) 1:25:19
9. Tove Andersen (NOR) 1:26:14
10. Camilla Hott Johansen (NOR) 1:26:42
Men
1. Andreas Svanebo (SWE) 1:09:40
2. Tor Halvor Bjørnstad (NOR) 1:10:20
3. Pavel Andreev (RUS) 1:10:22
4. Arne Post (NOR) 1:10:43
5. Daniel Antonioli (ITA) 1:11:17
6. Konstantin Lavrentyev (RUS) 1:12:17
7. Sigi Bauer (AUT) 1:12:29
8. Tor-Atle Fuglerud (NOR) 1:12:59
9. Markus Rothberger (AUT) 1:13:04
10. Evgeny Kirillov (RUS) 1:13:35
