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Triathlon - 18. May 2019.

Sophie Coldwell makes it a day to remember for GB in Cagliari




Sophie Coldwell lined up alongside teammate and race number one Jodie Stimpson for the beach start of the women’s race, all 43 athletes looking out to some big rolling waves ready to greet them on the brand new Cagliari course.

Coldwell adapted brilliantly, forging out ahead of the pack early and staying there despite having Caroline Pohl (GER) and home favourite Ilaria Zane for close company.



That trio that was then first out onto their bikes where Coldwell’s lead was soon swallowed up by the likes of Emma Jackson (AUS) and Sara Perez Sala (ESP), Stimpson also going well in her first race back this year.

After another great swim, Beth Potter (GBR) fell back and was riding alone 25 seconds behind while an eight-strong chase group ploughed on a further 10 seconds behind her, including Lotte Wilms (NED), young South African Simone Ackerman and Australia’s Charlotte McShane, all trying to get organised and make up some ground on the leaders.

It was Germany’s Nina Eim pushing things up front as the bell sounded, and she and Coldwell would eventually exit T2 side by side, Stimpson, Lena Meissner (GER) and Valerie Barthelemy all well placed within just a few strides of those front runners.

Having finished just off the podium in Madrid earlier in the month, Coldwell wasted no time in dropping the hammer here in Italy, pulling away and extending the daylight behind with nobody able to match the acceleration.

Sadly for Stimpson, the lack of race-practice took its toll, while ahead a battle was on between the two young Germans and Barthelemy.

With Meissner eventually dropping back, it came down to a second sprint finish in a week for Barthelemy, but she would have to settle for the bronze as she did in Chengdu, as Eim held on firm to take a brilliant first World Cup podium of her career.

“I was really pleased,” said a thrilled Coldwell. “I’m a strong swimmer but it’s different when it comes to the sea and beach running, so I was pleased to get underway and away quite quickly. It was hard to see when we were coming back in but I just kept my head down and tried to push on from the front of the bike. It was a strong working group and onto the run I was really pleased with how it panned out. I crashed a few weeks ago on my bike so the run is a work in progress and I just wanted to keep my head down.”

“I was not expecting that, i’m delighted,” said Eim. “I came out of the water in the top 20 which is really good for me and got into the first group, still feeling good. On the sprint I just gave it everything I had. It is unbelievable.”

“I didn’t really know what to expect this week,” said a smiling Valerie Barthelemy afterwards. “I was pretty tired after the travel from Chengdu and after the super-sprint I wasn’t really sure where my legs would be. I was just happy to stay in until the end. Running with Jodie Stimpson is just, wow, she’s such a legend and I never envisioned to be keeping up with her. To be working with her on the run is an honour, she’s such a class act.”


Coldwell adapted brilliantly, forging out ahead of the pack early and staying there despite having Caroline Pohl (GER) and home favourite Ilaria Zane for close company.

That trio that was then first out onto their bikes where Coldwell’s lead was soon swallowed up by the likes of Emma Jackson (AUS) and Sara Perez Sala (ESP), Stimpson also going well in her first race back this year.

After another great swim, Beth Potter (GBR) fell back and was riding alone 25 seconds behind while an eight-strong chase group ploughed on a further 10 seconds behind her, including Lotte Wilms (NED), young South African Simone Ackerman and Australia’s Charlotte McShane, all trying to get organised and make up some ground on the leaders.

It was Germany’s Nina Eim pushing things up front as the bell sounded, and she and Coldwell would eventually exit T2 side by side, Stimpson, Lena Meissner (GER) and Valerie Barthelemy all well placed within just a few strides of those front runners.

Having finished just off the podium in Madrid earlier in the month, Coldwell wasted no time in dropping the hammer here in Italy, pulling away and extending the daylight behind with nobody able to match the acceleration.

Sadly for Stimpson, the lack of race-practice took its toll, while ahead a battle was on between the two young Germans and Barthelemy.

With Meissner eventually dropping back, it came down to a second sprint finish in a week for Barthelemy, but she would have to settle for the bronze as she did in Chengdu, as Eim held on firm to take a brilliant first World Cup podium of her career.

“I was really pleased,” said a thrilled Coldwell. “I’m a strong swimmer but it’s different when it comes to the sea and beach running, so I was pleased to get underway and away quite quickly. It was hard to see when we were coming back in but I just kept my head down and tried to push on from the front of the bike. It was a strong working group and onto the run I was really pleased with how it panned out. I crashed a few weeks ago on my bike so the run is a work in progress and I just wanted to keep my head down.”

“I was not expecting that, i’m delighted,” said Eim. “I came out of the water in the top 20 which is really good for me and got into the first group, still feeling good. On the sprint I just gave it everything I had. It is unbelievable.”

“I didn’t really know what to expect this week,” said a smiling Valerie Barthelemy afterwards. “I was pretty tired after the travel from Chengdu and after the super-sprint I wasn’t really sure where my legs would be. I was just happy to stay in until the end. Running with Jodie Stimpson is just, wow, she’s such a legend and I never envisioned to be keeping up with her. To be working with her on the run is an honour, she’s such a class act.”

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