Historic win for Japan’s Tayama in Israel – Ellice and Richmond in top 40

EILAT, Israel – Hirokatsu Tayama made triathlon history today, becoming the first Japanese triathlete to ever win an ITU World Cup. With a time of 1 hour, 49 minutes and 47 seconds, last year’s Asian Champion won the 2007 Eilat BG Triathlon World Cup. His previous best in a World Cup was a 7th place finish in his native Japan at the 2006 event in Ishigaki. Ukrainian Volodymyr Polikarpenko was 46 seconds behind Tayama for the silver, taking his 22nd career World Cup medal. Russian phenom Alexander Brukhankov came across the line for the bronze, just behind his friend Polikarpenko.



Off the bike and out of the second transition, Tayama took off and left the rest of the field behind. The gamble paid off as no other man would catch him for the remainder of the race. Tayama was runner-up at this year’s Asian Championships, finished 13th at the Athens Olympics and 5th at last year’s Asian Games in Doha. Japan has hosted 28 World Cups in ITU history, more than any other country and had never won until Tayama’s victory today. At the finish line he celebrated with a dance and later a tearful phone call back home. Dmitry Polyansky of Russia and Duarte Silva Marques of Portugal rounded out the top five.


Of the New Zealanders, Clark Ellice finished 26th and Nathan Richmond was 37th.



2007 Eilat BG Triathlon World Cup – Unofficial Men’s results:

Gold – Hirokatsu Tayama (JPN) 1:49:47

Silver – Volodymyr Polikarpenko (UKR) 1:50:32

Bronze – Alexander Brukhankov (RUS) 1:50:36

4th – Dmitry Polyansky (RUS) 1:50:44

5th – Duarte Silva Marques (POR) 1:50:47

6th – Andriy Glushenko (UKR) 1:50:59

7th – Oliver Freeman (GBR) 1:51:03

8th – Richard Stannard (GBR) 1:51:07

9th – Matt Reed (USA) 1:51:14

10th – Axel Zeebroek (BEL) 1:51:22

Plus

26th Clark Ellice (NZL) 1:52:53

37th Nathan Richmond (NZL) 1:55:51