ITU Geelong World Cup
Australia
Sunday, April 14, 2002
1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run
Complete Results - Men, Women (pdf files)

Women's Race
Harrop Wins First Round Of The 2002 ITU Triathlon World Cup

In a further example of her emotional fortitude and physical strength, Australia's Loretta Harrop has beaten the world's best women to take the opening round of the ITU World Cup, victorious in the Accenture race at Geelong in sunny dry conditions. Harrop crossed in 2:01:35, 34 seconds in front of the USA's Barb Lindquist, with USA's Siri Lindley third in 2:03:05.

Harrop, Lindquist, Australia's Nicole Hackett and the USA's Laura Reback were first out of the water with Reback dropped early in the eight lap 40 km bike. Hackett was axed early in the run, but it wasn't till the second lap of the 10km run that Brisbane's Harrop surged away from Lindquist to develop a strong lead.

World no 1 Siri Lindley ran herself onto the podium in a brilliant performance in the final leg. She had been in the chase pack at the end of the bike - 2m14s behind the lead group; but catapulted out of transition to run down Hackett, closing the gap to 1m30s to seal third place.

Harrop was pleased with her win, saying that after securing her Commonwealth Games berth in Canberra in February, her focus had been directed to the Geelong World Cup. She said racing had provided her with relief from the grief she is carrying after the tragic death of her brother and soul mate, triathlete Luke, in January.

I guess I haven't thought about goals this year, I've just thought about doing the best I can every day said 26 year old Harrop. You know, racing..it's only physical pain, it does not rate to emotional pain. I actually quite enjoy the two hours of switching off my mind for a little while, and giving myself a bit of a hammering, said the gutsy competitor, giving an insight into the heartache she is carrying with her on a daily basis.

Harrop said she had not started the race that well. Barb had a great swim, and we really struggled to keep up with her. And then I struggled the last couple of laps of the bike, and I started to blow up. I was really looking forward to get onto the run. The course is quite tough. You can feel it in your hamstrings in the bike, and by the time you get to the run, your back and your hamstrings are quite lactic. But it is good to have a tough race first up, it will make the rest of the year seem a bit easier.

The win catapults Harrop from third to second place on ITU rankings, behind Lindley.

Men's Race
Peter Robertson Takes Victory In His Race For World # 1

World champion Australia's Peter Robertson claimed a stunning victory today in the opening Accenture race of the ITU World Cup in Geelong, south of Melbourne today. Robertson was with the lead pack of 15 for the opening swim and frantically fast bike leg, but the 26 year old wasted no time when he hit the bitumen for the run, breaking from the field early to build a solid lead.

The Sydneysider crossed the Olympic distance race first in 1:51:33, 24 seconds in front of surprise placegetter Courtney Atkinso,n who has been recovering from a virus. Hamish Carter was third.

It was a race of high drama with Olympic champion Simon Whitfield being taken to hospital after a multi bike pile up on the first lap of the bike which also ousted Australia's Luke McKenzie and NZ's Bevan Docherty and left Greg Bennett bruised, but still in the race. Whitfield has broken both wrists and collarbone and will be out for six weeks.

Miles Stewart and Kiwi Shane Reed punctured to put an end to their day; while world number one Australia's Chris Hill retired early after suffering from a virus that has swept the Gold Coast training squad. Robertson was thrilled to maintain his perfect World Cup record for Australia - the last World Cup in Sydney in 2000 was taken by Robertson and today he showed what a big race performer he is, by sewing up the local victory again.

The pace was on early in the bike and a few guys weres itting back. I wanted to make sure I was up the front, and keep the pace going , said Robbo. So lucky I avoided the crash. I certainly didn't cause it! But shame about Simon, that he crashed, I was really looking forward to racing him today, said Robertson who lost to Whitfield two weeks ago in Geelong in the final run.

My transition was a shocker from bike to run. I was a little overconfident at the end of the bike and I dropped my sticks in the rush. There was no Hilly, no Simon, Miles flatted and he was looking good today, and I did not expect Courtney to have such a good race because he'd been sick. But then early in the run, Courtney came up next to me and I thought oh, oh I haven't got it all my own way but fortunately I was able to get away, said Robertson.

The victory was an early warning signal to his competitors, with Robertson planning a year of tactical races to ensure a successful defense of his world championship and a goal of world number one by year end.

I'm not planning on racing too much year this year. I want every race to count, said Robertson. I'm just singling out races this year. I still have another nine races to go. I want to do well in every race I do this year. I want to become a more consistent athlete and dominate the world. I feel that I can. I have shown I can win big races and I want to step up now and win every race. I've got Com Games, and another four World Cups, world champs and a couple of independent races. I want to be world champion and world number one, but it is going to take me a little while, because the guys ahead of me have all done tons more World Cups than I have, it is only my sixth or seventh World Cup.

The next round is in St Petersburg, Florida on April 28.