Nicky Samuels Stuns in First ITU World Cup Win
Wanaka’s Nicky Samuels has stunned the triathlon world with her maiden ITU World Cup victory, taking the title in spectacular fashion in Mooloolaba today (Sunday) over a world class field including world number one Emma Moffat (AUS).
Samuels won the race in typical style, swimming strongly before riding away with Daniela Ryf (SUI) on the tough and undulating 40km bike leg to establish a lead of over a minute on a chasing pack that included Moffatt and last year’s rising star and world number 11 Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHILE) and defending champion Vendula Frintova (CZE).
Samuels was the strongest of a strong bunch on a day when the weather gods threw torrential rain, wind and a choppy sea at the athletes.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet but it was great to be on that podium, to hear the anthem and to see the New Zealand flag. The conditions certainly played to my advantage and despite the choppy water meaning you could hardly see anything, I was third around the first buoy.
“Daniela and I got a small break on the bike and then capitalised when the real heavy stuff came down, pushing out quickly to 50 seconds. I think most of the other girls were a bit scared in those conditions but we pushed on.”
Samuels expected to see the well performed Ryf run away once they were off the bike together, but not only did she stay with the world number 12, she soon moved into a lead she would never relinquish.
“I thought she might have run faster and I kind of expected to be saying goodbye after transition but I stayed behind her, I knew I had to pace myself and went easy on the first lap to save something on what is a strength course. The others caught up 30 seconds on that first lap but after that it stayed pretty much the same as I was able to go again.
“The course is great as it allows you to see the others regularly and monitor the gaps so I was able to run within myself today knowing we have Sydney in two weeks (World Champs Series). I did push once more on the last lap but when you only have once more up the hill it seems a little easier.”
Samuels is not getting ahead of herself though, suggesting there isn’t even time to celebrate the win.
“No we won’t be celebrating too much at all, I have Sydney in two weeks time and I am back home tomorrow to finish unpacking boxes in our new house. The progression has been good from our summer racing at home to today but the others are still running up to two minutes out of me so I know there is plenty to work on and improve yet.
“For two years my coach and I have been working towards this year being a big year to qualify for the London Olympics. That is the goal later in the year and we will continue to build towards that.”
The win was worth $6,250 (US) to Samuels but more importantly it will earn the popular 28 year old huge kudos and respect from the international triathlon community and vital ranking points for both Samuels personally but also Triathlon New Zealand towards qualifying three athletes for a start at the London Olympic Games.
Young Kiwi Simone Ackerman found the going tough but nonetheless will have gained vital experience in her first ITU World Cup race, coming home in 43rd place.
Meanwhile in the men’s race, it was an Australian double with Brad Kahlefeldt leading home countryman Brendan Sexton and Frenchman David Hauss with both place getters on a World Cup podium for the first time in their careers. Kahlefeldt picked up his 7th World Cup title by contrast, moving him to joint sixth on the all time list of World Cup winners.
Of the Kiwis James Elvery fared best in 30th place on what was a tough day in a world class field. Elvery admits there is work to do but is aiming at gradual improvement towards the London qualifying race later in the season.
"I Put together a solid race today, for 31st in a tough world class field and felt I improved on my performance in Wellington. I was disappointed with the way the race panned out, with around 20 guys cutting the swim buoy by about 15 metres. I had been in the top 5 with Dylan McNeice and Gomez, and a bunch of guys came out of nowhere to our right and suddenly we were 40th-50th. My race plan was to swim hard and try to get a group away early so that went out the window.
“I felt good running up to around 7 kilometres when I drifted off a group of strong runners. It’s always tough here in Mooloolaba, with the heat and the hill and it would have been great to hold onto the group just ahead. A step forward from Wellington though where I missed the pack in T1 and cracked at 5k, and I will look to keep improving through the season heading towards Olympic qualification in London WCS in August.”
Elvery was closely followed home by Tony Dodds and Clark Ellice in the hot and testing conditions.
ITU World Cup
Mooloolaba, Australia
Elite Women
1 Nicky Samuels NZL 2:03:13
2 Emma Moffatt AUS 2:03:33
3 Barbara Riveros Diaz CHILE2:03:56
4 Paula Findlay CAN 2:04:06
5 Vendula Frintova CZE 2:04:06
Plus NZers
43 Simone Ackerman NZL 2:17:49
Elite Men
1 Brad Kahlefeldt AUS 01:51:52
2 Brendan Sexton AUS 01:51:55
3 David Hauss FRA 01:51:55
4 Ruedi Wild SUI 01:52:07
5 Javier Gomez ESP 01:52:16
Plus NZers
30 James Elvery NZL 01:53:41
33 Tony Dodds NZL 01:54:00
34 Clark Ellice NZL 01:54:03
61 Martin Van Barneveld NZL 1:56:15
68 Dylan McNeice NZL 01:58:38
Nicky Samuels Career Highlights before today’s ITU World Cup victory
· 2010 Bronze Oceania Championships, Wellington NZ
· 2010, 2009, 2008 New Zealand Triathlon Series Champion (Contact Cup)
· 2010 NZ National Sprint distance Champion
· 2009 NZ National Sprint distance Champion
· 2009 Central Otago Sports Women of the year
· 2009 Bronze Oceania Champs, Gold Coast Australia
· 2009 Silver Medal Oceania Cup, New Plymouth, New Zealand
· 2009 4th Place ITU World Cup Mooloolaba Australia
· 2008 Bronze Oceania Champs, Wellington NZ
· 2008 NZ Olympic Distance National Champion
· 2007 4th place Madrid ITU World Cup, Spain
· 2007 Bronze ITU World Cup Kitzbuhel, Austria
· 2006 Bronze U23 Elite World Championships, Lausanne, Switzerland
Image credit: Delly Carr