ITU Winter Triathlon World Cup
Jaca, Spain. Saturday, February 26.
5k run, 5k mountain bike, 10k cc ski

Freezing clouds hung on the slopes of Candanchù, a venue of the 2010 Jaca Winter Olympic bid in the Spanish Pyrenees, as the women gathered for the start of their race. The local organizing team had worked all night grooming the tracks after 60 cm of heavy snow had fallen in 24 hours. By the time the women had completed the 5k run lap, the warm Foehn (a wind from north Africa) boosted the thermometer and the humid air started thawing the newly formed crusty ice.

The mountain bike section became almost impossible and ITU Technical Delegate Enrique Quesada directed the athletes into the transition area early, shortening their near impossible task in the mushy quagmire. Inmaculada Pereiro Gonzalez of Spain took an early lead in the run, only to be passed by teammate Ana Casares. With a 1 minute advantage going into the 10 km cross-country ski finale, Ana pushed her way over the perfectly groomed ski tracks. The sun made its appearance, to the satisfaction of hundreds of sport aficionados.

Inmaculada was able to regain her lead in the final kilometers of the competition, forcing Ana to accept second. The podium was a Spanish affair with Karin Folkegaard (in spite of her name) finishing third. 26 Women were on the start line, the largest field of the season so far.

Eneko Llanos of Spain, a familiar competitor on the ITU Summer Triathlon World Cup scene set a fast pace on the run. Marc Ruhe of Liechtenstein entered the first transition 15 seconds back, while series leader Benjamin Sonntag of Germany trailed by 36 seconds. Switzerland's Iwan Schuwey was a minute back, while Spanish Champion and familiar face on the Winter Triathlon circuit; Juan Carl Apilluelo was a full 1:30 behind.

As for the women's mountain bike section, the course proved extremely challenging, but that didn't slow down Pedro Anarbe of Spain who posted the fastest bike split coming within a few seconds of Marc Ruhe who had taken the lead from Eneko.

Benjamin Sonntag who literally flies once on his skis caught and passed Iwan Schuwey soon after the second transition and was in the hunt for a valiant Marc Ruhe. But it was not to be, as Marc had built up a large gap on the bike and was able to hold off his challenger for the top place on the podium.

In spite of his silver medal Benjamin Sonntag was exuberant at the finish because of his tremendous performance on the final cross country section, and the fact that he is still number one in the ITU Winter World Cup Ranking. Juan Carlos Api Apilluelo claimed his 11^th Spanish Winter Triathlon Championship ahead of Pedro Anarbe and the Llanos brothers, Hector and Eneko.

Medals were presented by Ms. Marisol de la Soledad Casado ITU Executive Board member, Pedro Navarro, Candanchù representative and Jose Hidalgo President of the Spanish Triathlon Federation. A formal award ceremony took place a few hours after the event at the opera house, at which time the Mayor of Jaca confirmed his enthusiastic support not only for the Jaca 2010 Winter Olympics candidacy but also for the winter triathlon as the newest winter sport on the program. In her speech Marisol Casado, told the story of her dream about Sydney long before Triathlon was an Olympic sport and Sydney the organizing city. She stated, I find a strong parallel between that dream and the enthusiasm for Winter Triathlon in Jaca.

ITU Winter Triathlon World Cup Coordinator Michel Gignoux stated, I am continually amazed at the commitment of the Winter Triathletes to this sport, and am delighted to announce that all of these fine athletes will meet again next week in Brusson, Italy, for the ITU Winter Triathlon World Championship where $15,000us in prize money will be awarded.