Napier World Cup Comes Down to the Run With Exciting Sprint Finish

After a women’s race that saw the breakaway stick, the men’s race at the World Triathlon Cup Napier saw 31 of the 37 starters hit T2 together, setting up a 5 km road race for the medals. In the end it was a huge final sprint from David Castro that would get the Spaniard the gold medal as he pulled clear of Aussies Brayden Mercer and Callum McClusky.

Big Group in the Water

After leading for most of the way on the swim, Aussie Jack Crome was pipped out of the water by countryman Braden Mercer as the pair made it to the beach in 8:35. Just 20 seconds separated the first 24 though, so things were set up for some big groups at the front. A group of 15 that included a number of favourites including Kiwi Tayler Reid, Aussie Luke Willian and Spain’s David Castro managed to open up a gap of 17 seconds on the second chase group and only a few more seconds on the third chase group by the end of the first of four laps on the bike.

Halfway through the second lap Greek Panagoiotis Bitados and Austria’s Tjebbe Kaindl pulled away from the rest of the group, and were joined by Kiwi Ivan Abele at the end of the second loop as the third chase group closed the gap on the group ahead. Shortly after the groups came together, Bitados lost his chain and was forced to the side of the road. Once he dropped back, the other two breakaway riders sat up and waited for the group to catch them.

Just before the end of the third lap, Kiwis Henry McMecking and Gus Marfell made a move and pulled clear, only to be joined by a couple of countrymen, James Corbett and Cameron Maunder shortly after they heard the bell. That move didn’t last long, though, which meant there were 31 of the 37 starters who hit T2 together.

5 km Road Race

Japan’s Kazushi Jozua led the men out of the transition, but it wasn’t long before Castro surged to the front, only to have Kaindl pass him. Defending Aussie champ Callum McClusky marked all the moves, staying in second or third as a pack of eight formed at the front. The group was whittled down to five, though, as Spain’s Roberto Sanchez moved ahead of Castro, McClusky, American Reese Vannerson and Kiwi Reid.

As they started the second of two 2.5 km loops on the run it was Vannerson who started to push at the front, but suddenly they were joined by race favourite Luke Willian (AUS) and countryman Mercer along with American Sullivan Middaugh. Once the group got bigger, the Spaniards went to the front again as Sanchez and Castro tried to get clear. McClusky marked the move, though as the three opened up a gap of about 3 seconds on Mercer and Vannerson with 800 m to go.

Suddenly with about 400 m to go Mercer surged back into the picture and pushed for the line, only to have Castro sprint clear over the last few hundred meters. There was no touching Castro on the blue carpet – the Spaniard crossed the line in 50:30, two seconds up on Mercer, who was another second ahead of Willian. Sanchez would have to settle with fourth (50:37), with Vannerson taking fifth (50:37).

You can see the full results here.

Tags: