Published May 8, 2011 02:52PM
The 2011 ITU Triathlon World Cup series continued on Sunday, May 8, 2011 in Monterrey, Mexico where a full field of 150 athletes from 34 nations competed. Australia’s Brendan Sexton took the title in the men’s race.
In Mexico’s third largest city, the heat was so extreme start times had to be pushed back 30 minutes for the women and men, although the men would be challenged the most, as the race for them didn’t start until 11am. The women started at 8am.
In the men’s race, at the swim finish it was Aurélien Raphael of France leading the pack with a split of 17:33. Pierre Le Corre and Vincent Luis, also both of France, were in the top swim group.
Out on the eight-loop bike course, the same top swimmers were out ahead, but by the second loop, 40 athletes had come together and jockeyed for first position. By the fourth loop, the leader’s pack was a group of 64 and growing—the men appeared to be evenly matched for the day and it would clearly be the run that determined the winner. Local favorite Mexican Arturo Garza was first into T2 with a time of 1:15:15.
The men then had a four-lap, paved, nearly flat run course. American Hunter Kemper looked strong on the run and took the lead, but in the end, he was passed and Australia’s Brendan Sexton crossed the finish line first with a time of 1:46:57, followed by Frederic Belaubre of France just nine seconds back and Kemper crossed the finish in third with a time of 1:47:11.
May 8, 2011
Swim: 1.5K, Bike: 40K, Run: 10K
For a race recap of the women’s ITU Triathlon World Cup in Monterrey, Mexico, click here.