Warriner combats wintry conditions to post commanding victory in Vancouver

Kiwi triathlete Samantha Warriner has overcome terrible conditions to post a fourth career World Cup victory as the International Triathlon Union World Cup series moved to North America this morning with race six held in cold and wet conditions in Vancouver.

The women’s race faced a torrential downpour midway through the 40km bike leg, leading to a number of withdrawals with athletes crashing in the treacherous conditions or suffering from the cold.

New Zealand’s only competitor in the women’s field, Sam Warriner managed to stay clear of trouble on the bike leg to finish all over the world class field and post her first World Cup victory of the season. The Whangarei athlete was understandably ecstatic.

“Once I knew I had a sniff at a win I wasn’t about to let it go. World Cup victories are so difficult to get and the competition is so tough at every race that it just drives you on the moment you are in contention.”

Victory was achieved despite spending three weeks in heavy training mode in Canada and not tapering for the Vancouver ahead of a long season of racing, culminating later in the year with the qualification race for the Beijing Olympic Games.

American’s Sara McLarty and Sarah Haskins broke away on the bike leg, helped by the slowing tactics of their countrywomen Jasmine Oeinck and Sarah Groff at the head of the chasing bunch. Their lead at the end of the bike leg was an impressive one and a half minutes.

Warriner was massively impressive on the run leg, mowing down the huge lead established by McLarty and Haskins and in the process leaving other world class runners in her wake in posting an amazing 33 minutes 16 seconds 10km split.

“The bike and run went superbly to plan, despite getting off the bike a long way down I knew the girls in front had been working hard and I had it in me to reel them in. To be honest I was more concerned about Erin Densham (Aus) as she had stayed close to me on the bike and has great leg speed. But once I got into rhythm and focused on running down the leaders even Erin couldn’t stay with me.”

The win for Warriner was all the more memorable given her poor start, exiting the water some distance back from the leaders in 20th place.

“I have no excuses about my swim – for some reason it was a shocker! It left me with some work to do on the first lap of the bike just to get on the chase group. Once there I had a decision to make whether to push on or sit and save my legs for the run. Obviously I made the right call to sit tight at that point and bide my time.”

Warriner’s day was not over though, moments after crossing the finish line she was helping New Zealander James Elvery set up her bike to suit the elite Kiwi male athlete ahead of his race (underway at 10am NZT). Elvery had his Cannondale bike stolen on Friday while sitting in an internet café touching base with family and supporters back home. Despite a 5 minute chase on foot, Elvery was unable to catch the thief and will race today on Warriner’s bike.


<b>ITU World Cup, Round Six, Vancouver</b>


Elite Women Results

1 Samantha Warriner Whangarei, NZ 2:03:25

2 Sarah Haskins USA 2:04:01

3 Erin Densham AUS 2:04:11

4 Joelle Franzmann GER 2:04:36

5 Elizabeth May LUX 2:04:52

The men’s elite race including 6 New Zealand athletes begins at 10am NZT and will conclude just before midday.

Full results and information will be posted on release this afternoon. For live coverage and results however visit www.triathlon.org