Vanessa Fernandes wins in Copenhagen

Report summary and photo by John Coxon

In windy and cloudy weather conditions and a harbour water temperature of 15 degrees 62 women elites from 24 countries took to the Copenhagen pontoon for the start. Portugal’s Alexandra Moniz took the early lead with Fernandes in the top 10 after 750 m of the swim. Fernandez was first out of the water followed by Moniz, Ryf, Berg and Dollinger. The 6 athletes made up the lead group at the start of the bike with Fernandes, Moniz, Dollinger, Berg, Zemanova, Ryf with 8 in the chasing group some 25 seconds behind including Spirig, Pilz, Lisk, and Whitcombe. By 25km mark the chase group had caught the leaders and by the 25 km mark there was a huge lead pack . British athletes Dibens and Thorrington lead the huge group after 35 km.

At the end of the bike the lead group contained three former European Champions, Vanessa Fernandes (2004, 2005, 2006), Anja Dittmer (1999) and Michelle Dillon (GBR). Fernandes was first out of the transition followed by Lisk, Berk, Spirig and Ryf behind and GB’s Dillon who was just five seconds down on Fernandes going into the run . Fernandes stretched her lead to 20 seconds with Allen, Spirig, Lisk and Dillon in hot pursuit. Former Olympic champion( Athens 2004 ) , Austrian Allen took the lead group , some 50 seconds behind Fernandes together with Spirig, Lisk and joined by G.B’s Andrea Whitcombe who had moved through the field .

Whitcombe moved into second over a minute down on a relaxed looking Fernandes with Michelle Dillon only a second behind Spirig and still very much in contention for another podium. But it was a sparkling Fernandes who finished in Gold with Kate Allen second and Nicola Spirig third. G.B’s Andrea Whitcombe came in fourth with Michelle Dillon 6^th. Unlucky Julie Dibens withdrew at the start of the run home as did Rosie Clarke and Abbie Thorrington.

Commenting on the race Fernandes was happy with the swim despite cold feet and she had been anxious before the start about the cold. She admitted she sat back during the bike when nobody wanted to take it on and that allowed the chase pack to catch up. She had held back and rested ready for a strong run. Allen was full of praise for Fernandes and said that she and Emma Snowsill were ahead of the rest right now. “It all came down to the run today and who was strongest” , she said. Kate admitted she was hoping for a top five finish and was thrilled with the silver.

Junior Women Elite Race

Great Britain’s Hollie Aril is the new Women’s Junior European Championship. A field of 44 athletes lined up on the pontoon with Hollie exiting the swim 30 seconds in front of the lead group and was closely followed to the finish by Robisch from Germany 21 seconds down. Aril stayed ahead of the field taking gold , Robisch silver and G.B’s Kirsty McWilliam bronze.