Canadian women dominate at the Edmonton ITU World Cup

Canada scored a huge day in the women’s race, as Amelie Kretz, Ellen Pennock and Kirsten Sweetland swept the podium for the host country at the 2013 Edmonton ITU Triathlon World Cup.

Kretz and Pennock went to work early, getting a quick advantage off the 1-lap 750m swim. The pair were followed by Claudia Rivas (MEX) and Erin Densham (AUS) and a sizable school of women.

Strong cyclist Flora Duffy (BER), who is no stranger to tough bike courses having won at the 2012 Huatulco World Cup, pushed the pace on the first long loop of the bike course, creating a small breakaway of 10 women. The lead group enjoyed nearly a minute lead coming off the first lap, as they headed for the two smaller 4.5km loops.

With a determined Duffy at the helm and out of her saddle riding through transition, the lead group of 10 gained another 15 seconds over the pack of chasers with one lap to go. Included in that ten were Rivas, Densham, Sweetland, Kretz, Pennock and Joanna Brown (CAN). By the time they hit the run, the chase group was hard pressed to make up a 1:20 deficit on the 5km sprint course.

Sweetland, Kretz and Pennock did major work on the first run lap, dropping a talented field for a 14-second advantage. America’s Kaitlin Donner and Rivas attempted to keep pace behind them, while a struggling Densham fell to the back of the pack.

Kretz managed a breakaway on the final lap, leaving teammates Pennock and Sweetland behind. The 20-year old flew down the finish chute for her first World Cup title in 1:03:18. Pennock took silver, also her first World Cup medal in 1:03:29.

After struggling with injuries for a number of years, Sweetland got back on the podium with third in 1:03:35. Behind them, Brown ran herself into fourth, giving Canada a clean sweep of the top four positions in 1:03:49.

ITU World Cup Edmonton – 24 June 2013

Final Results – Elite Women – 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run