Atkinson Wins on Home Soil

by World Triathlon Admin on 29 Mar, 2009 12:01
Australia's Courtney Atkinson won his home race at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast to kick start his 2009 season.

Australia’s Courtney Atkinson won his home race at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast in a time of 1:52:05 to kick start his 2009 season. Kris Gemmell from New Zealand ran strongly for second to prevent Brad Kahlefeldt making it a one-two for the Australians.

Atkinson used the river swim to his advantage as he formed a lead pack with young compatriots Joshua Amberger and James Seear. The three worked together well on the cycle, but Amberger dropped off the pace after 20km, leaving Seear to hang on to Atkinson’s wheel in the windy conditions. Despite being whittled down to two, the pair were able to hold off the chase pack, exiting second transition to take a 1:20 advantage onto the 10km run.

Once onto his feet Atkinson was able to settle into a steady rhythm whilst Gemmell was the first to make his move from behind as he pulled away from Oceania Champ, Kahlefeldt, and French duo, David Hauss and Laurent Vidal.

Despite significantly reducing Atkinson’s advantage, Gemmell was unable to catch the Australian national champion before the finish line. Seear’s early efforts paid off as the under23 athlete held on for tenth place and his best World Cup performance to date, making it five Aussies in the top ten.

“That is an awful way to race, effectively on your own for the entire journey, it was tough for sure. But it was also hugely satisfying to win in that manner, satisfying but tough,” said Atkinson.

“I had no inkling that we would race like that today. Out of the swim I thought there was quite a big bunch, but early on the bike we had a gap and suddenly it turned into a minute so we went for it. To be honest at no time did I think it was the right thing to do but once committed we went for it.  I knew Kris and Brad would take time out of me early [on the run] but I had it under control the whole way.”

Gemmell ran superbly in his first standard distance race of the year and was delighted with his form and fulsome in his praise of Atkinson.

“I love the way the race was won today, to see Courtney win it like that is great and he deserves the win. I knew that I would run well today, but we just couldn’t get anything going on the bike. I tried a few times to chase the leaders down but didn’t get too much help and in the end that proved the difference,” commented the Kiwi.

Pre-race favourite Kahlefeldt admitted he was underdone for such a tough race after recovering from hip surgery in the off season.

“I was better prepared last year and on such a tough course you can’t come in underdone. Given that and the recovery from the surgery though, I am more than happy with third today,” he said.


Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Men - Unofficial Results

Gold - Courtney Atkinson (AUS) 1:52:05
Silver - Kris Gemmell (NZL) 1:52:16
Bronze - Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) 1:52:50
4th - David Hauss (FRA) 1:53:24
5th - Laurent Vidal (FRA) 1:53:30
6th - Dan Wilson (AUS) 1:53:35
7th - Andreas Raelert (GER) 1:53:40
8th - Gareth Halversen (AUS) 1:53:49
9th - Matt Chrabot (USA) 1:54:02
10th - James Seear (AUS) 1:54:16

Click here for full results

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Click here for Race Picture Gallery.


La australiana Courtney Atkinson ha ganado la carrera disputada en su localidad, en la Costa Sunshine de Mooloolaba con un tiempo de 1:52:05 para iniciar su temporada 2009. El neozelands Kris Gemmell hizo un gran segmento de carrera a pie para evitar que Brad Kahlefeldt consiguiese el segundo puesto tambin para Australia.

Atkinson utiliz la natacin en el ro para conseguir ventaja tras formar un grupo de cabeza con sus jvenes compatriotas Joshua Amberger y James Seear. Los tres trabajaron juntos sobre la bicicleta pero Amberger baj el ritmo despus de 20 kilmetros, dejando a Seear siguiendo la rueda de Atkinson. A pesar de que el grupo se redujo a dos, la pareja fue capaz de resistir la persecucin del grupo perseguidor, saliendo de la segunda transicin con una ventaja de 1:20 para los 10km de carrera a pie.

Atkinson puso sobre sus pies un ritmo constante que le sirvi para resolver la carrera, mientras que Gemmell fue el primero en atacar desde el grupo perseguidor y alejarse del campen de Oceana Kahlefeldt y del do francs David Hauss y Laurent Vidal.

A pesar de reducir significativamente la ventaja de Atkinson, Gemmell fue incapaz de atrapar al campen nacional australiano antes de cruzar la lnea de meta. El esfuerzo de Seear tuvo su recompensa ya que el atleta sub23 consigui la dcima posicin, su mejor resultado en la Copa del Mundo hasta la fecha y clasificando a cinco australianos entre los diez primeros.

No es una manera muy divertida de competir, realizar prcticamente todo el recorrido en solitario, ha sido bastante duro. Pero tambin ha sido muy gratificante ganar de esta manera, gratificante pero complicado, dijo Atkinson.

No pensaba que la carrera se iba a desarrollar como se ha desarrollado. A la salida de la natacin pens que haba un gran grupo, pero pronto en la bicicleta tenamos una ventaja que rpidamente se convirti en un minuto. Para ser honesto, en ningn momento creo que fuese la decisin acertada, pero una vez tomada la seguimos hasta las ltimas consecuencias. Saba que Kris y Brad me reduciran tiempo desde el principio del segmento de carrera, pero lo tena todo bajo control.

Gemmell corri a un magnfico nivel en su primera carrera de distancia Olmpica y estaba encantado con su estado de forma y se deshizo en elogios sobre Atkinson.
Me encanta la manera en que ha ganado la carrera, ver a Courtney ganar de esta forma es genial y se merece el triunfo. Saba que hoy iba a correr bien, pero no nos pusimos de acuerdo en la bicicleta. Intent algunas veces dar caza a los lderes pero no tuve mucha ayuda por lo que los intentos no fueron fructferos, coment el neozelands.

El a priori favorito para llevarse la carrera Brad Kahlefeldt no estaba en plena forma para una carrera tan dura despus de su operacin de cadera fuera de temporada.

Estaba mejor preparado el ao pasado y en un recorrido tan duro no puedes estar bajo de forma. Dado que todava estoy recuperndome de la operacin, estoy ms que feliz con la tercera posicin, coment.

Copa del Mundo de Triatln ITU de Mooloolaba
1.5km natacin, 40km bicicleta, 10km carrera
Elite Masculina Resultados no oficiales

Oro - Courtney Atkinson (AUS) 1:52:05
Plata - Kris Gemmell (NZL) 1:52:16
Bronce - Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) 1:52:50
4th - David Hauss (FRA) 1:53:24
5th - Laurent Vidal (FRA) 1:53:30
6th - Dan Wilson (AUS) 1:53:35
7th - Andreas Raelert (GER) 1:53:40
8th - Gareth Halversen (AUS) 1:53:49
9th - Matt Chrabot (USA) 1:54:02
10th - James Seear (AUS) 1:54:16

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