In the final World Cup race ahead of the Rio Olympic Games, the men's and women's elite races produced thrilling races that set the scene for unpredictable and phenomenal race in Brazil. Hosting the event for the very first time, Flora Duffy (BER) and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) earned the debut titles of the 2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup.
Women's Review
Becoming the first elite to ever win the event title, Bermuda’s Flora Duffy scored gold at the 2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup.
In the last major ITU competition before the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games begin for triathlon, Duffy secured the first-place medal right before having to head south to race on August 20. By executing her famous cycle and then continuing the power onto the run, Duffy grabbed her first World Cup win of the season and first since 2012.
Duffy said of her win, "It kind of came as a bit of a surprise, I came in here pretty tired just came from a big block of training for Rio, but just new I wanted to get one last hit out, so I knew it could go either way. It definitely hurt out there, but I am glad with how it went. But yeah it just did not feel too pretty."
Taking the silver medal was Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle, who also snagged a piece of hardware just in time before she sets to compete on the world’s stage in the Olympics. While the bronze was awarded to Taylor Knibb(USA), who stepped onto her first World Cup podium.
"I didn’t know how it was going to go. I have not raced since Yokohama, but I knew that coming here was good timing for Rio. So I am pretty relieved that I put up a good result, said Gentle of her podium performance."
2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup
750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
1. Flora Duffy BER BM 01:03:00
2. Ashleigh Gentle AUS AU 01:03:24
3. Taylor Knibb USA US 01:03:44
4. Emma Jackson AUS AU 01:04:16
5. Lindsey Jerdonek USA US 01:04:24
6. Jolanda Annen SUI CH 01:04:33
7. Kirsten Kasper USA US 01:04:43
8. Yuka Sato JPN JP 01:05:04
9. Taylor Spivey USA US 01:05:27
10. Paula Findlay CAN CA 01:05:39
Men's Review
Cruising through the course and never losing his leader position in the last two disciplines, Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt secured the first-ever men’s elite title at the 2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup.
While the event was the last major ITU competition before a majority of the elites head to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games, the opportune win came right before Blummenfelt competes on August 18.
After exiting the waters slightly behind and then quickly recovering and transitioning into the front pack, Blummenfelt held onto the advantage until he blasted away on the run to grab his second World Cup title of the season.
"It is definitely nice. We have been doing a bit of training in the last couple of weeks and my body is responding well. One day after altitude it can be good and the next it can be crappy, especially after so close to coming down, the condition could be good or bad, so I am pleased to see that it was a good one today."
The remaining two spots were earned by two World Cup podium first-timers. Canada’s own Matt Sharpe claimed the silver medal, while the bronze went to USA’s Eric Lagerstrom.
"I am pretty shattered right now, in all aspects, physically, emotionally, spiritually. But it was beautiful out there, amazing crowds, I am just stunned right now," Sharpe said of getting onto his first World Cup podium. "I haven’t raced much in Canada in the last few years, I have had a bit of a struggle over the last couple of years, so for me it is just nice to have a good performance for all of my supporters. All of my family and my friends, they sacrifice a lot for me, so to do this, it is all for them."
2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup
750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
1. Kristian Blummenfelt NOR NO 00:57:29
2. Matthew Sharpe CAN CA 00:58:43
3. Eric Lagerstrom USA US 00:58:47
4. Maximilian Schwetz GER DE 00:58:54
5. Jumpei Furuya JPN JP 00:58:57
6. Franz Loeschke GER DE 00:59:09
7. William Huffman USA US 00:59:12
8. Kevin Mcdowell USA US 00:59:16
9. Diogo Sclebin BRA BR 00:59:20
10. Simon De Cuyper BEL BE 00:59:24
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