Hewitt Victorious At French Grand Prix – Kiwi Round Up
Andrea Hewitt led the way for Kiwi triathletes over the weekend, with victory at the latest French Grand Prix race as the best in the world prepare for the next round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Hewitt was in complete control throughout at the St Jean De Monts event, raced over the sprint distance. The New Zealander won by almost a minute from Emma Jackson (AUS) after taking an early lead out of the water and not looking back. Fellow Kiwi Rebecca Kingsford was 33rd.
In the men’s race Bryce McMaster was the best of the Kiwis in 30th place and Ryan Sissons struggled in 40th place, Sissons losing valuable time in a rough beach swim and McMaster dropping places during the 5km run. The event was won in a dead heat by Jonathan Brownlee and Mario Mola.
Meanwhile Anneke Jenkins (Tauranga) followed her recent naming as Tri NZ Emerging Talent with a strong 7th place finish in the latest round of the German Bundesliga, her first attempt in the strong German club competition.
Racing for her club team, Jenkins performed steadily throughout to post the best international result of her fledgling career, the former elite breaststroker not looking out of place in a race won by current world number 2 Anne Haug (GER) in a field brimming with ITU athletes.
“For my first individual Bundesliga race this weekend I had a great race overall, achieving my goal of making the first bunch and sticking with them. My targets today included smooth and efficient transitions which I achieved, I even stayed with the bunch when Anne Haug caught us half way through the bike and was pushing the pace at the front. I positioned myself well to the front of the bunch around most corners and down and up the hills to try and stay safe.”
Jenkins was riding in her first ever draft legal race at this level as she looks to pick up valuable experience in elite company.
“My biggest fear was cornering and down hills in a bunch, well just bunch riding in general. Plus it had rained making me even more nervous! After today I feel much better about bunch riding now and I think I rode really well. I tried to be aware and only go as hard as I had to.”
Jenkins rode strongly throughout, only losing contact with the main chase group (Haug had moved ahead) in the final stages.
“I stayed with them till about 1km left of the hill and I was dropping off. But even Anne still was in sight. It was really cool. I wasn't sure if they were going as hard as they could or I was doing better than I thought I could.”
Not surprisingly Jenkins struggled to make an impact on the run, but by the same token did not lose in comparison to her more experienced rivals.
“I came off the bike in 5th place. Onto the run and I just wasn't really feeling it. I could run but I just didn't feel fast. Hopefully that was because it was an off road run and felt like I was all over the place. And maybe due to the hardest bike course I have ever done. But anyway I just didn't really feel fast. My time was okay, unsure of how good the other girls are but I wasn't far off the few in front of me.”
In the men’s race won by Laurent Vidal (FRA), a number of young Kiwis were competing with Cameron Goldsmid 17th, Sam Osborne 23rd, Mike Phillips 31st, Andew Lloyd 38th and Harrison Dean 46th.
Goldsmid’s effort was a good one, with a strong swim and the third fastest run split spoilt by a decision on the bike leg that saw him dropped from the lead bunch on a hill climb.