Andrea Hewitt takes WTS Abu Dhabi in thrilling sprint finish, dedicates win to deceased fiancé
The New Zealander takes her first win on the WTS circuit since 2011 in thrilling finish line sprint against Jodie Stimpson.
New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt, one of the consistent triathletes on the ITU circuit, claimed her first world series win in six years this morning during the elite’s women’s race at WTS Abu Dhabi, the 2017 season opener. Hewitt flew passed Britain’s Jodie Stimpson, who was in the lead until the final metres of the run, for a stunning victory against the reining Abu Dhabi champion.
Hewitt’s name came to the forefront of the triathlon world in late 2015 when her fiance and coach, top-ranked French triathlete Laurent Vidal, died suddenly of a heart attack.
“I dedicate this to Laurent Vidal,” she said after the race. “He kept telling me I had the talent, but the emotions were missing in the race. Today I showed them.”
A much deserved podium between these ladies. What a way to start off @andreahewittnz @jodiestimpson Sara Vilic! pic.twitter.com/ZSlRQsTZRQ
— TriathlonLIVE (@triathlonlive) March 3, 2017
Commonwealth Games champion Stimpson took second, in her first race back on the circuit after narrowly missing the Olympics last year. Austria’s Sara Vilic hung on for a close third, to secure her first WTS podium finish.
No Canadians are lining up for WTS Abu Dhabi this weekend, including in the men’s race which takes place tomorrow morning.
Full results available here.
