Colucci, Sapunova in Hungary
Reinaldo Colucci won the ITU World Cup in Tiszaujvaros, Hungary and with it earned his first World Cup title. For women's winner Yuliya Sapunova this victory was also her first World Cup success.
The men
Aussie Joshua Amberger led a front group of 15 men after the first of two swim laps, but it was Japan's Tsukasa Hirano who led them into T1.
During the early part of the bike segment 5 men formed the new front group and in that group were Russians Ivan Vasiliev, Vladimir Turbaevskiy, Yulian Malyshev, plus the Aussie Amberger and Francesco Godoy of Spain. The lead group of 5 steadily gained on the big chase group and by the time they hit T2, the gap had grown to 1:10.
On the run Vasiliev was soon by himself and as his fellow breakaway partners started to drop back, the chasers led by Reinaldo Colucci started to make up ground. Crisanto Grajales of Mexico and Czech Martin Krnavek were right with the Brazilian until about 800 meters to go. Not content to let it come down to a sprint, Colucci pulled away from the others and charged to the line to win his first World Cup title and the first for Brazil in 12 years. Grajales finishing second and Krnavek rounded out the podium.
The women
As expected, Sara McLarty led the swim in Tiszaujvaros, but surprisingly the American had company as she exited the waters. Hungarian Margit Vanek stayed with McLarty stroke for stroke and reached T2 with her, about 40 seconds ahead of the next group of chasers.
A quick transition allowed McLarty to get away from the Hungarian and on the bike by herself. The chasers were not working well together and that allowed McLarty to increased her lead. "Myself and a couple of the other girls were trying to push the group to catch Sara on the bike, but most of the girls didn't want to work," said Jodie Swallow.
The American reached T2 almost 90 seconds a head of the bunch that contained Swallow and all the other contenders. McLarty though had seemingly given too much effort on the bike and was caught after only 3k on the run. The front group now was Swallow, Yuliya Sapunova, Carla Moreno, Helle Frederiksen, Emma Jackson and Zsofia Kovacs. Sapunova and Swallow dropped the other four after a big surge with 2k to go and in the final sprint the Ukrainian defeated Swallow for the title.
"I was not very confident in my sprint," said Sapunova to ITU media. "I usually try to break away early in the run, because I have never been very good at sprinting, but today I felt different. I've never felt that strong at the end."
Tiszaujvaros ITU World Cup
Tiszaujvaros, Hungary / August 8, 2010
1.5k swim / 42.6k bike / 10k run
Top 10 men
1. Reinaldo Colucci (BRA) 1:49:07
2. Crisanto Grajales (MEX) 1:49:09
3. Martin Krnavek (CZE) 1:49:12
4. Yulian Malyshev (RUS) 1:49:22
5. Ruedi Wild (SUI) 1:49:26
6. Ivan Vasiliev (RUS) 1:49:27
7. Jan Celustka (CZE) 1:49:27
8. Andriy Glushchenko (UKR) 1:49:35
9. Rostyslav Pevtsov (UKR) 1:49:36
10. Adam Bowden (GBR) 1:49:38
Top 10 women
1. Yuliya Sapunova (UKR) 2:01:00
2. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 2:01:02
3. Carla Moreno (BRA) 2:01:11
4. Agnieszka Jerzyk (POL) 2:01:19
5. Emma Jackson (AUS) 2:01:28
6. Maria Czesnik (POL) 2:01:34
7. Helle Fredericksen (DEN) 2:01:36
8. Zsofia Kovacs (HUN) 2:01:41
9. Alexandra Razarenova (RUS) 2:01:51
10. Irina Abysova (RUS) 2:02:07
