Lauren Parker and Kate Doughty have ended their 2019 ITU racing season on a high, taking home gold medals and valuable Tokyo 2020 Qualification Points at the Banyoles Paratriathlon World Cup on Sunday, amongst a flurry of Australian medals.
Backing up her maiden World Championship win in Lausanne, Switzerland last weekend, Lauren Parker has added yet another gold medal to her collection with a key win in Banyoles.
Putting together another dominant race, Parker established herself a commanding lead early setting a blistering pace through the swim and the bike.
However, unlike in Lausanne, Parker wasn’t alone on the field with teammate Emily Tapp not far off her pace. Working hard, the Canberran put down the fastest run leg of the race in her bid to chase down Parker.
Parker kept her foot on the gas, with her earlier efforts in the swim and bike paying off as she sprinted home to her second consecutive win, while Tapp took a well-deserved silver medal.
Kate Doughty blitzed the field in the PTS5 class to claim her 2nd World Cup win this season and end her 2019 racing calendar on a high note.
Setting the tone from the get-go, Doughty made her intentions of a medal finish clear as she lay down the fastest swim and ride of the race. With a commanding lead over her rivals heading into the final leg, Doughty sprinted home to a hard-earnt gold medal, ending her season on a high.
Sally Pilbeam fought her way back from a tough swim to earn herself a silver medal in the PTS4 class.
With Japan’s Mami Tani holding a well-established lead out of the water, Pilbeam put in the work on the bike and the run to find her way back into the race. Chasing down eventual bronze medallist Marta Frances Gomez (ESP), Pilbeam got the job done to take silver in 01:21:30 behind eventual winner Tani.
Nic Beveridge left everything out on the course in the PTWC class, taking home a well-earnt bronze in a time of 01:03:38.
After taking an early lead with a strong swim, Beveridge found himself quickly caught by a chasing Alexandre Paviza (FRA) and Jumpei Kimura (JPN), who had set a cracking pace on the bike. With eventual winner Paviza establishing an unrelenting pace on the bike and run, Beveridge continued keep up the chase as he sprinted home to a deserved bronze medal.
Clint Pickin took an honourable 5th in the PTS4 class, while Joshua Kassulke claimed 8th in the PTS5 class, with both athletes gaining further valuable international racing experience as they turn their focus towards the domestic season and 2020.
In the Elite racing, Gillian Backhouse led the charge for the Australians in a solid hit-out following last weekend’s ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.
Competing against an experienced field, Backhouse capitalised where she could, putting together an excellent swim and ride to maintain good position amongst the leaders. Teammates Tamsyn Moana-Veale, Emma Jeffcoat and Emma Jackson weren’t too far off the pace, as they worked hard in the chase packs to close the gap on the lead group.
Despite their efforts the Australians found themselves out-run on the final leg, with the speed and expertise of a field which included World Champions Flora Duffy ((BER) and Vicky Holland (GBR) shining through in the final stages. Germany’s Laura Lindemann took the win in 00:55:38, with the USA’s Tamara Gorman and Bermuda’s Flora Duffy claiming 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Moana-Veale took 19th for the Australians, with Jeffcoat, Backhouse and Jackson in 25th, 31st and 33rd, respectively. Charlotte McShane withdrew from the race on the run.
In the Elite Men’s, Marcel Walkington took 40th, while Callum McClusky was lapped out on the bike leg, with both Aussies walking away with further key international racing experience.
Banyoles Paratriathlon World Cup Results
1st Lauren Parker (PTWC)
1st Kate Doughty (PTS5)
2nd Emily Tapp (PTWC)
2nd Sally Pilbeam (PTS4)
3rd Nic Beveridge (PTWC)
5th Clint Pickin (PTS4)
8th Joshua Kassulke (PTS5)
Full Results
Banyones ITU Triathlon World Cup Results
Elite Women
19th Tamsyn Moana-Veale
25th Emma Jeffcoat
31st Gillian Backhouse
33rd Emma Jackson
DNF Charlotte McShane
Elite Men
40th Marcel Walkington
DNF Callum McClusky
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