MOLA AND STIMPSON – UNBEATABLE WINNING WAYS
Triathlon ITU, March 12, 2016: Mooloolaba, Queensland (12 March 2016) - Spain’s Mario Mola and Great Britain’s Jodie Stimpson are back on the top of the podium at the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup.
Mola and Stimpson, both crowned champions of ITU World Triathlon Series season opener in Abu Dhabi last Saturday, have yet again polished their early season with golden wins in the sprint distance format today comprising of a 750m swim, 20km bike and a 5km run.
Mola exited the ocean swim with the large mass of men who stayed together for the early stages of the bike leg.
It wasn’t until the final bike lap that Mola made his mark on the race and put himself at the pointy end of the group with Portugal’s Joao Pereira and Vicente Hernandez on his tail.
On the run it was a tight group of elite men who lead out of transition including Mola, Pereira, Hernandez, Australia’s Courtney Atkinson, Marcel Walkington and Israel’s Ron Darmon.
On the bell lap it was Mola, Hernandez and Pereira who extended their lead on the group for the final kilometre of the race to run home in an exhilarating sprint finish.
Mola simply surged away to collect the win in a commanding time of 52 minutes and 54 seconds.
“It was an amazing race for the Spaniards and also for Portugal.
“It’s hard to plan a sprint distance race with a huge field.
“Sometimes you just have to do whatever the legs can do and today worked pretty well.”
“It’s a great atmosphere here in Mooloolaba. It’s my third time racing and my second win so I will most definitely come back,” said Mola.
Mola will base himself here in Noosa with the Spanish triathlon team until round 2 of the World Triathlon Series on the Gold Coast in April.
A 31-second silence was held at the start of both elite races in Mooloolaba as a fitting tribute to honour the legacy of Laurent Vidal, an outstanding athlete who tragically passed away in 2015.
Vidal won the 2012 Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup.
“It’s a special win here today. I would like to honour Laurent Vidal. We had a 31 second silence before the start which meant a lot to all of us,” Mola concluded with.
In the women’s race Commonwealth Games gold medalist Stimpson admitted she felt right at home after winning today’s Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup in hot, humid conditions on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Stimpson, the 27-year-old from Oldbury in the British Midlands, calls Australia her second home and was more than comfortable in the sweat-box conditions and even in the tricky Mooloolaba surf.
“I’ve come to Australia so many time now, I feel like it’s my second home,” said Stimpson, who backed up last week’s opening World Triathlon Series win in Abu Dhabi with a stunning victory.
Stimpson knew there was no time to rest when she left transition for the run home in and around the technical Mooloolaba beachside course.
“When you have a runner like Australian Emma Moffatt in the field there is no time to slacken off, no time to take chances,” said Stimpson.
“I know what Emma (Moffatt) is like, she is such a great runner and I had to make sure I made the most of getting away early in the run.”
Stimpson raced away for the first run lap with Moffatt and well placed American Kirsten Kasper in hot pursuit.
Although Stimpson kept the pace on and won comfortably it was Moffatt who charged home on the back of a large supportive crowd with Kasper, who led out of the surf swim in a solid third place.
Simpson and Moffatt will now prepare for their next battle, when there is a lot more at stake – this time for Olympic berths in round two of the World Triathlon Series on the Gold Coast on April 9.
UP NEXT: GOLD COAST TO HOST ROUND TWO OF THE WORLD TRIATHLON SERIES
The world’s best triathletes will descend on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia), as they take on round two of the International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series, on Saturday 9 April 2016.
NEWSFEED LINK FOR ALL NETWORKS TO ACCESS >
Elite women’s > http://clients.sportsfilm.com.au/RJMedia/ITU_WC_Women.mov.zip
Elite men’s > http://clients.sportsfilm.com.au/RJMedia/ITU_WC_Men_.mov.zip
Full results >> online
Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival (11 – 13 March) is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural and regional events across the State. #visitsunshinecoast #sunshinecoastevents
Issued on behalf of Triathlon ITU by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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