France and Germany grab 2014 Junior World Championship titles in Edmonton

France and Germany grabbed the first World Championship titles available on the docket France and Germany grab 2014 Junior World Championship titles in Edmonton on Friday in the men's and women's junior races. After scoring a European crown earlier this summer, Laura Lindemann (GER) added the title of world's fastest junior to her medal stockpile. Raphael Montoya (FRA), who was also the European junior men's champion this year, avenged a missed 2013 podium to win the junior men's World Championship event in sprint finish.

In addition to the junior races, thousands of age groupers turned out to compete in the Age Group Sprint World Championships. Notably amongst the top finishes was eight-time elite World Championship medallist Michellie Jones (AUS). The 1992 & 1993 Elite World Champion won her 45-49 women's age group by nearly three minutes in a time that beat every single woman that competed in age group competition on Friday.

AUDIO AND PICTURES AVAILABLE
Please note, audio from all of today's medallists and rights-free pictures of the races are available on the Media Centre at www.triathlon.org

Login details for access to the TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton media centre are below;
Username: edmontonmedia
Password: edmonton2014

Video highlights of all four races are also available on our YouTube channel here.

Junior Women's Review
Laura Lindemann (GER) capped off her fairytale season in Edmonton when she upgraded her 2013 bronze medal for gold in the women's Junior World Championship race at the Grand Final Edmonton. In a near case of 2014 European Championships dejavu, Lindemann just edged out France's dynamic duo ofAudrey Merle and Cassandre Beaugrand for the title. While Beaugrand took bronze at the European event, she out sprinted teammate Merle on Friday to snatch silver, leaving Merle to finish third.
Click here for the full review 

2014 ITU Junior Women's World Championships - 29 August
Final Results - Junior Women - 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run    

1. Laura Lindemann GER  01:02:35
2. Cassandre Beaugrand FRA  01:02:38
3. Audrey Merle FRA  01:02:44
4. Sophie Coldwell GBR  01:03:37
5. Avery Evenson USA  01:03:44
6. Brittany Dutton AUS  01:04:05
7. Margot Garabedian FRA  01:04:06
8. Vanesa De La Torre MEX  01:04:10
9. Taylor Knibb USA  01:04:13
10. Ditte Kristensen DEN  01:04:24
Full Results Here

Junior Men's Review
In a thrilling finish that came down to the wire in Edmonton, France's Raphael Montoya (FRA) clinched the 2014 ITU Junior Men's World Championship on Friday. The 2014 European Champion was well placed in the 750m swim and 20km bike leg but he produced a personal best 5km run split to out sprint Australia's Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) by the narrowest or margins. Fellow Australian Calvin Quirk (AUS) also produced a personal best performance to run himself into the bronze. Click here for the full review

2014 ITU Junior Men's World Championships - 29 August
Final Results - Junior Men - 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
1. Raphael Montoya FRA  00:56:27
2. Jacob Birtwhistle AUS  00:56:28
3. Calvin Quirk AUS  00:56:45
4. Lasse Nygaard-Priester GER  00:56:50
5. Russell Pennock CAN   00:57:05
6. Manoel Messias BRA  00:57:11
7. Lukas Pertl AUT  00:57:13
8. Gustav Iden NOR  00:57:14
9. Xavier Grenier-Talavera CAN  00:57:18
10. Lucas Jacolin FRA   00:57:20
Full results here

Age Group Sprint Review
At the end of the day the top three countries on the medal tally are the US with 20, Australia with 10 and Canada with 7. The day also saw Panama's first ever Age Group World Championship medal earned when Maria Florencia Frage of the 30-34 age group earned bronze. Namibia also earned its first ever medal with silver from Matthew James Williams in the men's 35-39 division.
Click here to read more about the age group race
Check out all the results from today here.

The TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton continues tomorrow with the Under23 men, elite women, and paratriathlon races. For more information, including full schedules and live race day coverage, visit www.triathlon.org