Findlay Takes Title At ITU Madrid

The second round of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series took place in Madrid this weekend. Top professionals used this opportunity to chase ITU points as they work toward selection for the Olympics. Taking the title this year for the women was Canadian Paula Findlay with her fourth win, equaling Emma Moffatt’s record of Dextro Energy Triathlon Series race wins.

The women started the day with warmer temperatures than the men—28 degrees Celsius and climbing—as they took to the water at Casa de Campo Lake. The two-lap swim covered 1500M. Through the first lap, it was American Laura Bennett with the lead, followed by Sweden’s Lisa Norden and Findlay. Coming out of the water, those three stayed in the lead. Bennett’s time was 19:16 after the second lap, followed by Findlay who was two seconds back.

Out of T1 and onto the bike course were Bennett; Findlay, who arrived in Madrid with a cracked bike frame; and New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt, a previous Madrid winner. The bike course was eight laps with a gradient of 12 percent, so the strong cyclists clearly had an advantage. Britain’s Helen Jenkins, who was third in Madrid last year, was expected to perform well on the tough course. She had a bike crash in the Sydney race, so looked to redeem herself in Madrid. The women set a fast pace right out from the start. Before the halfway point in the bike, Anja Dittmer, Ainhoa Murua and Kathy Tremblay were given 15 second penalties for unknown reasons. The chase group included Daniela Ryf, Emma Moffatt, Annabel Luxford and Lisa Mensink. Emma Snowsill was in a chase pack over 2:20 back. Bennett stayed strong and held onto the lead coming out of T2 with a time of 1:28:56.

The 10K run was four laps on a mostly flat course, but heat was a factor, despite it being fairly early in June. Bennett set the running pace with Hewitt and Findlay not far behind. However, they jockeyed for top position and Hewitt and Findlay took the leads, with Barbara Riveros Diaz not far behind. Riveros Diaz was looking to continue her successful 2011 season, which includes a bronze at the Moolooaba World Cup and a silver in Sydney. Findlay was able to power herself into first through the last lap, but not without a fight from Jenkins. Riveros Diaz dropped back. Findlay held onto first, crossing the finish line with a fastest time of the day at 2:03:46. In second was Jenkins just three seconds back and in third was Emma Charayron from France. Findlay has now become the equal most successful female athlete in terms of Dextro Energy Triathlon Series wins.

Up next in the ITU World Championship Series is Kitzbuhel, Austria on June 18 and 19.

Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series-Madrid
June 5, 2011
Swim: 1500M, Bike: 40K, Run: 10K

Women’s Results:

1. Paula Findlay, 2:03:46
2. Helen Jenkins, 2:03:49
3. Emma Charayron, 2:03:58
4. Andrea Hewitt, 2:04:01
5. Barbara Riveros Diaz, 2:04:44