“For me this was a test, to see what I have to do to be better for next year. Only in the Olympic Games, the winner is the best,†said Fernandes, who secured the world cup series title with her win today. “I don’t have what I want yet. I have to work for the Olympics.â€
The world number one turned 22 years old yesterday and celebrated it with her third consecutive Beijing world cup title. In a dominating season in which she has won every major title including world championships and European championships, Fernandes has to be considered the gold standard in women’s triathlon as the world’s best continue to push towards next year’s Olympics in Beijing.
Nervous energy was evident from the start of the non-wetsuit swim as half the women dove into the water before the starter’s horn. The athletes swam hard for about a hundred meters before officials stopped them and directed them back to the pontoon. When they finally did get off to a clean start, it was the American women who surged to the lead. Sara McLarty, Sarah Haskins and Laura Bennett led the women out of the water and into the first transition. Three-time world champion Emma Snowsill and Fernandes were not far behind as the leaders headed out onto the 40-kilometer bike course.
Early in the bike, Snowsill and Fernandes pushed to the front of the lead pack, clearly not afraid to put in the work to break away. The front group that also included German Joelle Franzmann and Pan American Games gold medalist Julie Ertel (formerly Swail) established a 43-second lead after the first lap. But the lead dissolved by the start of the fourth lap as the two packs merged, resulting in 30 women riding within five seconds of each other. With no riders attempting to break away in the final two laps of the bike, this race was going to come down to the 10-kilometer run.
“When there is so many people coming into transition and bikes are flying everywhere, it’s a matter of getting out in front in those transitions and not losing that time,†said Snowsill after a slow second transition cost her 10 seconds on the leaders.
As the came off their bikes, Ricarda Lisk of Germany and Bennett were first out of transition but within seconds, they watched Fernandes explode past them to steal the lead. Bennett tried to stay with her early but after the first lap, the world number one broke away and manufactured a 15-second lead. By the second lap, Fernandes opened up a 42-second gap and it was unlikely any woman, even Snowsill, was going to catch her.
“I love to run with Emma. To me she is the prefect athlete and is a way for me to see where I am and what I have to do,†stated Fernandes after her devastating 34:16 run.
“We’ve had that head to head going. One or the other, but it’s either not the right time in the season or something is not quite 100%,†commented Snowsill on the ongoing battle between herself and Fernandes. “I think come Games time we will both be 110% and that is something we are both looking forward to. Today the battle was with myself in turns of can I survive the race. She’s on top of her game at the moment and I’m not.â€
Fernandes crossed the line more than a full minute ahead of Snowsill to win her 18th world cup win and the officially test even for the Olympics. In a riveting race that had many Olympic spots on the line, Debbie Tanner and Samantha Warriner qualified for the New Zealand team as the top two Kiwis today.
“Para mi esto era una prueba, para ver que tengo que hacer para ser mejor el próximo año. Sólo en los Juegos OlÃmpicos, el ganador es el mejor,†dijo Fernández, quien se aseguró el tÃtulo de la copa del mundo con su victoria de hoy. “Yo no tengo todavÃa lo que quiero. “Yo tengo que trabajar para las Olimpiadasâ€
La número uno del mundo cumplió ayer 22 años y lo celebró con su tercer tÃtulo consecutivo en la copa del mundo de Beijing. En una temporada dominada en la cual ella ha ganado los principales tÃtulos incluidos los campeonatos del mundo y los campeonatos de Europa, Fernandes tiene que ser considerada como la estandarte de oro en el triatlón femenino y la máxima favorita para las Olimpiadas de Beijing el próximo año.
Los nervios se hacÃan evidentes al inicio de la natación sin neopreno en donde la mitad de las mujeres se lanzaron al agua antes del pistoletazo inicial. Las atletas nadaron cerca de cien metros antes de que los oficiales pararan la carrera y las enviasen al pontón. Cuando ellas finalmente hicieron una salida limpia, fueron las mujeres americanas quienes se situaron en cabeza. Sara McLarty, Sara Haskins y Laura Bennett lideraban las mujeres a la salida del agua y entrada en la primera transición. La tres veces campeona del mundo Emma Snowsill y Fernandes no estaban lejos detrás de la cabeza en el circuito de los 40 kilómetros de la bicicleta.
“Hemos tenido que tirar en cabeza. Una o la otra, pero no es el momento adecuado de la temporada de estar al 100%â€, comento Snowsill sobre la lucha entre ella y Fernandes. “Pienso que cuando sea la hora de los Juegos ambas estaremos al 110% y eso es algo que ambas esperamos impacientemente. Hoy la lucha era conmigo por poder superar la carrera. Ella está en lo más alto actualmente y yo no lo estoyâ€
Fernandes cruzó la lÃnea de meta con más de un minuto de ventaja sobre Snowsill para ganar su 18º copa del mundo y ganar el test oficial para las Olimpiadas. En una carrera fascinante que tenÃa muchas plazas OlÃmpicas en juego, Debbie Tanner y Samantha Warriner se clasificaron para el equipo de Nueva Zelanda como las dos mejores neozelandesas del dÃa.
