Bella’s fairytale bronze in Denmark

 

  

Triathon Australia, 15 JULY 2018 - Australia’s Annabel Luxford has turned back the clock at the Multisport World Championships in Denmark’s home of Hans Christian Andersen with a hard fought bronze medal in the Long Distance event in Fyn.

Danish triathlete Camilla Pederson led the field through the three-kilometre swim in the Odense Harbour and through the first transition – closely followed by Luxford, eventual winner and local Danish hero Helle Frederiksen and Chile’s renown Olympian Barbara Riveros.

They headlined the women’s field as over 1,000 athletes contested the challenging World Championships long course event over 3km swim, 120.5 bike and 30.7km run.

The long course triathlon was the showcase event on the schedule and closed the 10-day multisport festival.

Out on the 120km bike course the group of elite women, which included, Luxford, Frederiksen, Pederson and Riveros, worked hard together. 

Luxford maintained a strong lead position to bring the elite women into the second transition of the day. 

Within the first kilometre of the run Frederiksen had moved into lead position and, motivated by the immense home crowd support which followed her across the course, established a remarkable gap (1-minute-22-seconds) on Luxford and Riveros.

Pederson dropped back into fourth position, 3-minutes-10-seconds down on the race leader. 

Frederiksen was in a league of her own on the final stretch of the run with the Danish triathlete crossing the finish line to go one better than her silver in the Penticton ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship last year.

Luxford said it was a “tough but amazing race with so many people cheering. I am really happy with the bronze.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been on an ITU podium. Congratulations to Helle for such a strong and honest showing and to Barbara for her impressive form as a short course athlete and second place. 

“I really enjoyed the distance and although I didn’t have one of my best races, it was sweet relief to put together a solid day after struggling with my health in May and June. 

“The Danes were such a great crowd and riding through the countryside and then running the cobbled streets of Odense - home of Hans Christian Andersen- made for a pretty cool day. Thanks as always to my sponsors, family and friends.”

Results - Elite
Photo Credit: ITU Media | Wagner Araujo