Corus British Triathlon team lead the international rankings in World Championships, Hamburg

Clarke ascends into Senior ranks at BG Triathlon World Championships

In the Elite Men’s race, Will Clarke enjoyed an impressive fifth place finish as the Corus British Triathlon team packed three athletes into the top ten at the BG Triathlon World Championships in Hamburg.

It was a tight race for the British team, which eventually saw Daniel Unger from Germany snatch the lead from European Champion, Spain’s Javier Gomez, in a thrilling sprint finish in the final 200 metres, to claim an outstanding victory in front of the home crowd.

Stuart Hayes led the British out of the 1500m swim with Tim Don and Clarke in close contention. All three Brits stayed in the lead pack on the bike and exited for the final discipline within striking distance.

Defending Champion Tim Don immediately hit the front on the 10km run, however he was overtaken by team mate Will Clarke on the second lap. Clarke had established a five second lead at the half way mark, but was reeled in by a chasing pack of five athletes.

Clarke, last year’s World Under 23 Champion, finished just 26 seconds behind Unger in fifth with Stuart Hayes in eighth. Don struggled on the second half of the run but still placed himself in tenth.

Clarke commented:

“I’m absolutely ecstatic with my race. I’ve shown I can compete with the best in the world and to finish top five at the Senior World Champs is much more satisfying than my World Under 23 win last year. The course at next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing is much tougher on the bike and that will really suit me; I’m ready to challenge for the medals.”

Three athletes in the top ten ensured Britain headed the international rankings in a World Championships that suggests great things for Beijing 2008 and the future of the Corus British Triathlon team.

Gold and Silver for Corus Great Britain Juniors at Triathlon World Championships

Hollie Avil and Alistair Brownlee took first and second finishes for the Corus Great Britain Triathlon team in the Junior races at the Triathlon World Championships in Hamburg.

Avil exited the 750m swim in first position and sustained her lead in the front bike pack. Despite a slow second transition she ran through to take victory 11 seconds ahead of Australia’s Ashley Gentle. Fellow compatriots Kirsty McWilliam and Jodie Stimpson finished seventh and 26th respectively.

Defending champion Alistair Brownlee found himself in a chasing pack of three athletes on the bike leg after a difficult transition. After exiting a minute down on the leaders in seventh, Brownlee ran impressively to finish second, 25 seconds behind race winner Aurélien Raphael from France. Jonathan Brownlee and Aaron Harris finished in 15th and 18th positions.

Narrow medal misses for Under 23 GB Corus athletes Clarke and Nicholls

Friday afternoon saw European Champions Rosie Clarke and Ritchie Nicholls racing in the Under 23 competitions. In wet and cold conditions both narrowly missed out on bronze medals.

Clarke stayed with the chase pack on the 40km cycle but was beaten to bronze by Renata Koch from Hungary who ran well to recoup Clarke’s 40 second lead after the bike stage.

After a poor swim Nicholls rode strongly to the front pack continuing his progression through the field on the run. However, his charge for the line fell short as he finished thirteen seconds away from gold and four from bronze.

Philip Graves finished 52nd and the third GB Corus Elite team member Dann Brook was forced to retire with injury after falling off his bike.

Fernandes wins first BG Triathlon World Championship

In the Elite Women’s race, Portugal’s Vanessa Fernandes won her first Triathlon World Championship overcoming a strong international field.

Fernandes placed herself in the lead group after the swim, and with a solid group of American and German athletes she worked hard to stay ahead of the chasing pack which included defending champion Emma Snowsill from Australia.

Corus British Triathlon team favorites  Michelle Dillon and Andrea Whitcombe ran strongly after disappointing swims to finish 25th and 29th. Kerry Lang finished in 59th.