The Belgian Vansteelant and the Hungarian Csomor are world Champions in Barcis (Pn).

SITE_IMAGE_3Benny Vansteelant It was all as forecasted at the Long Distance Duathlon Championships in Barcis. Today in Valcellina the favourite Benny Vansteelant came first always leading from the beginning to the end of the race. The Belgian Champion came to the finish line after 3 hours 40 minutes and 59 seconds outdistancing about 4 minutes the second, the Spanish Marcel Zamora (3 hours 44’46”). The British Mark Mckay came third (3 hours 45’49”). Erika CsomorAmong the women the Hungarian Erika Csomor came first (as forecasted), followed by the 2004 champion, the German Ulrike Schwalbe and the British Annie Emmerson, who was appreciated by herSITE_IMAGE_4 attractiveness. Under a blue sky and a summer sun, in Barcis which, in the last few days, has become a real sport Babel, full of athletes, technicians and fans coming from many different countries, the show was high quality. So was the organisation by ACC Triathlon Team Cordenons, even if there have been some polemies. “Police forces didn’t come – says Antonio Iossa, the organiser – while the carabinieri weren’t sufficient, even if there had been many briefings in prefecture offices”. The hot temperature (the temperature since 8.oo a.m. was near 30 degrees Celsius) caused some problems among the Age Groupers. From the agonistic point of view the only bad aspects was Italy’s negative result: Stefania Bonazzi was among the Age Groupers during the first run leg and Alessandro Alessandri, the most awaited SITE_IMAGE_5Italian, abandoned the race because he had cramp during the bike stage. The first among the Italians was Fausto Dotti, former professional cyclist, who came 9th in 3 hours 49’52”, thanks to his strength when cycling and his wise behaviour during the race.

The race

RunNews about an announced victory. The Belgian Champion leaded the race from the beginning, becoming uncatchable once he jumped on the bike. In the first run leg (three laps around the lake – 16,5km), there was a big selection among the Elite racers. The Belgian Champion arrived first in the transition, followed by the New Zealander Mark Bailey and Alessandro Alessandri. The other athletes followed them after more then 30″. During the bike stage the outdistancing was growing more and more. Alessandri suddenly stopped fighting because of cramp, but Vansteelant was gaining ground getting an eight minutes advantage after the second lap so that he could manage his energies in a better SITE_IMAGE_6way during the last 11 km.
BikeThe best among the Italians was Fausto Dotti, former professional cyclist, who first raced in a Duathlon and came 9th rising happiness among the Italian technicians. Luca Nascimbeni and Massimo Torsani gave a good performance too, coming to the finish line 15th and 20th respectively.
Speaking about the women race, the selection was during the last run leg; up to then the first seven favourite women had leaded the race: Emmerson, Morrison, Csomor, Pereiro, Schwalbe, Van Vielken, Kramer and Kozulina. But in the last 11 km, the Hungarian Csomor outdistanced the other athletes coming first to the finish, before the German reigning champion Ulrike Schwalbe and the British Annie Emmerson.

The interviews

It was a legitimate satisfaction that of Benny Vansteelant, the Belgian champion who won the Long Distance World Championship in Barcis yesterday confirming the experts’ comments who describe him as an invincible runner and cyclist, a real ‘Martian’.
Vansteelant was satisfied, but not surprised. He was aware of his strength: “I had my own tactic – he explains- and I was self-confident. I knew the other athletes wouldn’t SITE_IMAGE_7have managed to follow me. Maybe I should have run slower. Seriously, the second run leg was really hard”.
“I was surprised- he keeps on talking – when my advantage was growing more and more during the cycle stage. It was one of the best courses I have ever seen. Another surprising aspect was that I didn’t know the to athletes who mounted the podium with me”.
“What about my plans? In three weeks I’m attending the Powerman in Belgium where I have never won”.
The women race winner, the Hungarian Erika Csomor is tired, but happy. I’m still racing in my mind-she jokes- I haven’t realised yet that I won”.
“In Long Distance races – the athlete goes on- you have to be smart, control yourself, balance your strength.. In Debrecen (at Classical Distance European Championship) I wasn’t mentally SITE_IMAGE_8prepared. I wasn’t satisfied, but this helped me to find more energy during the training.
“It was hard because of the hot temperature, but easy for the wind. An exciting race. I had a cramp, but I fighted against myself. I was surprised for my mind strength. I was telling myself: ‘I can win!’ My next appointments are a Triathlon Olympics in Sardinia, a mountain bike professional race and the Classical Distance World Championship in Australia”.

 

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