Reigning Ironman 70.3 World Champ Andy Potts and Great Britain's Leanda Cave beat back solid fields to win the Accenture Escape from Alcatraz triathlon, each defending their victories from a year ago.
For the American Potts, the race was meant to merely be a test run. Unfortunately, he was never truly tested, running away with the wire-to-wire win in 2:01:57. For Cave, the challenge wasn’t as easy; American Becky Lavelle was just five seconds behind Cave midway through the run, but Cave found another gear to speed away for a win in 2:15:37.
On a postcard perfect day with sunshine, light winds, even palatable "brisk" waters in San Francisco Bay, athletes were treated to a day where the biggest challenges would come not from fog or cold, but hills, technical corners and that infamous sand ladder.
After leading all athletes out of the water alongside Frenchman Ben Sanson in 24:59, Potts ripped to the early lead, but found a young, eager rider in Matt Chrabot, who joined Potts early and was ready to make the defending champ earn his result. "He was really amped to ride up on me," Potts said. "Being green on the scene, I think he let his being up there with me get the best of him," Potts said. "I loved his willingness to commit to the bike, and it was great to see a guy up there who's not one of the usual suspects."
The usual suspects—Hawaii Ironman runner-up Craig Alexander and David Thompson and Shane Reed among them—chased in scattered collections minutes behind the leading duo.
The two rode off course, losing about 30 seconds of their lead. The gaffe was inconsequential to Potts, but Chrabot would pay. "That one was my fault," Potts said. "I've raced this race before and should have taken the proper course. I feel bad for Matt because he lost a couple places. That one was on me."
Potts and Chrabot rolled into T2 at Marina Green with the lead, but as soon as the two headed up the steps toward the passage under the Golden Gate Bridge, Chrabot fell off pace. He would eventually fade to finish fifth.
Potts, however, continued to run strong the remainder of the day to take the win. New Zealander Graham O'Grady, who finished seventh here a year ago, scored the fastest run split over the eight-mile course in 44:12 to take a surprising second.
In third place heading onto the run, Alexander hit a flat patch after the flat opening two miles as he headed over the headlands toward Baker Beach, and was summarily passed by David Thompson and Paul Matthews, relegating him to fifth. But Alexander would find his legs on the flat final two miles of the run to re-pass the duo and take the final podium spot.
Potts was pleased with his effort, and largely his sensations heading into the Olympic qualifier at the HyVee Triathlon in Des Moines, Iowa in two weeks. "When I was running, if I was really tested and someone wanted to light it up on me, I felt like I would have been able to respond," Potts said. "With two miles to go, I had no idea how close people were. I ran with good form, kept it together and would have been able to respond. I really feel like I raced smart."
The swim in the women’s race eliminated some key figures including Canadian Samantha McGlone, New Zealander Gina Ferguson and Pip Taylor, whom came out of the bay at least two minutes off the leader time.
Then the streets of San Francisco took a victim. After American Linda Gallo led women out of the water, the race was sparked by the activity of American Mary Beth Ellis, who passed Gallo in transition and tore off away from the defending champ and Becky Lavelle. Ellis assumed the early lead after Cave innocuously bounced her bike into the barriers heading out of T1. But it would be a short-lived lead.
"Mary Beth, Becky and I hit the first hill together ad Mary Beth was really strong," Cave said. "Right after that, on a straight where she was pedaling, she just crashed out. It was weird, but I just said well, I'll just bury myself the rest of the bike and see what happens."
Off the bike with a 1:30 lead on Lavelle, Cave was hopeful—but only just. "I know Becky is super fit trying out for the Olympics, so I just tried to keep a steady run and not bury myself too much before the sand ladder."
But by the sand ladder, Lavelle was staring at Cave's heels, just five seconds back. "I thought, now is the time to put the hammer down, and I had a nice tailwind heading in the last two miles, so it all worked out."
Lavelle's push earned her a comfortable second-place finish, and reigning Ironman 70.3 Champ Mirinda Carfrae would use the day’s fastest run to take third. "You don't think you can see all these great athletes on the start line and win again," Cave said afterward, "but to do it was awesome."
Top 10 men
1. Andy Potts (USA) 2:01:57
2. Graham O’Grady (NZL) 2:02:32
3. Craig Alexander (AUS) 2:02:53
4. David Thompson (USA) 2:03:04
5. Matt Chrabot (USA) 2:03:25
6. Paul Matthews (AUS) 2:04:40
7. Mark Fretta (USA) 2:05:29
8. Joe Umphenour (USA) 2:05:57
9. Shane Reed (NZL) 2:07:05
10. Kevin Collington (USA) 2:07:51
Top 10 women
1. Leanda Cave (GBR) 2:15:37
2. Becky Lavelle (USA) 2:15:52
3. Mirinda Carfrae (Aus) 2:16:47
4. Rebeccah Wassner (USA) 2:20:17
5. Samantha McGlone (CAN) 2:20:58
6. Alexis Smith (USA) 2:21:28
7. Jenna Shoemaker (USA) 2:21:44
8. Erin Ford (USA) 2:22:54
9. Gina Ferguson (USA) 2:23:32
10. Alicia Kaye (USA) 2:26:05
