Career best for Yorke at ITU Huatulco Triathlon World Cup

Canada’s Andrew Yorke had the triathlon race of his life while finishing sixth at the Huatulco ITU Triathlon World Cup in Mexico on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Yorke, whose previous best international result was a 13th at the Under-23 World Championships last year, clocked a time of two hours, three minutes, seven seconds (2:03:07).

“This feels pretty darn good. I’m racing to win and it is a huge boost for my confidence,” said Yorke, of Caledon, Ont. “I really want to show Triathlon Canada, and myself, this year that I belong on the pro circuit, and I’m not just here to show up. I’m trying to win. That’s what I train to do and I’m not content on being average.”

Yorke raced with the poise of seasoned veteran from start-to-finish on Saturday. Very comfortable in the 1.5-kilometre swim despite doing little open water training early in the season, Yorke put himself in the lead group on the bike where he took a breather for the first few laps before kicking it up a gear with the top four in the field for the final laps of the 40-kilometre ride.

“It was really hot and I tried to stay hydrated as much as possible with ice and water. I was pretty much losing the grip on the handlebars on the descent because of how much I was sweating,” said Yorke. “I got out first on the run, and told myself I’ve never lost a race once I had taken the lead. I kept the pace honest.”

“The effects of the heat were too much and I started cramping. I tried to hold on for the win as best as I could, but the lights were going out and I just didn’t quite have it in the end to hang on for the podium.”

Belgian Simon De Cuyper battled through the extreme heat to win the gold with a time of 2:02:34, while Ryan Sissons, of New Zealand, was second at 2:02:50. Danylo Sapunov, of the Ukraine, clocked-in at 2:02:54 to claim the bronze medal.

Victoria’s Matt Sharpe finished 34th (2:07:57), while Andre McCartney, also of Victoria, did not finish the race.

Huatulco ITU Triathlon World Cup – May 6, 2012

Final Results – Elite Men – 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run

1. Simon De Cuyper BEL 2:02:34

2. Ryan Sissons NZL 2:02:50

3. Danylo Sapunov UKR 2:02:54

4. Tyler Butterfield BER 2:03:04

5. Carlos Javier Quinchará Forero COL 2:03:07

6. Andrew Yorke CAN 2:03:13

7. Davide Uccellari ITA 2:03:20

8. Alessandro Fabian ITA 2:03:27

9. Ruedi Wild SUI 2:03:41

10. Ryan Bailie AUS 2:03:48

34. Matt Sharpe CAN 2:07:57

Bermuda’s Flora Duffy won her first World Cup race in the women’s division after posting a time of 2:13:17.

Manon Letourneau was the only Canadian on the women’s start line, but pulled out of the race after the second transition heading onto the run.

Huatulco ITU Triathlon World Cup – May 6, 2012

Final Results – Elite Women – 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run

1. Flora Duffy BER 2:13:17

2. Pamela Oliveira BRA 2:13:47

3. Claudia Rivas MEX 2:13:53

4. Alexandra Razarenova RUS 2:14:11

5. Line Jensen DEN 2:14:27

6. Yuko Takahashi JPN 2:15:33

7. Yuliya Yelistratova UKR 2:15:51

8. Mateja Simic SLO 2:16:21

9. Lisa Perterer AUT 2:16:28

10. Katrien Verstuyft BEL 2:16:28

Meanwhile, Canada’s Amelie Kretz stormed her way to the gold medal in the junior women’s PATCO North American Championships on Saturday in Huatulco. The Gatineau, Que., native clocked a first-place time of 1:06.11 in the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike, and five-kilometre run course.

Kretz finished 34 seconds ahead of Mexico’s Adriana Barraza, who finished second at 1:06:45. Mexico’s Vanesa Dela Torre rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 1:07:27.

Kretz was one of three Canadians to lead the pack out of the water in the talented junior field. Saskatoon’s Gabrielle Edwards narrowly missed the podium in fourth place at 1:08:55, while Camille Delamarre, also of Quebec, placed fifth at 1:09:34.

Alexis Lepage, of Gatineau, Que., was the top junior male in sixth spot at 1:00:09. Mexico’s Eduardo Moreno grabbed the gold with a time of 59:03.

For a complete list of junior results, please visit www.triathlon.org