Sian Rainsley takes the World Cup win in Hong Kong, Katie Zaferes helps Olympic hopes

Great Britain’s Sian Rainsley took the inaugural World Triathlon Cup Hong Kong today as two American and two Brits battling for the medals through the closing stages of the run. Spain’s Alberto Gonzalez managed to outrun countryman Antonio Serrat for the men’s title.

Rainsley sprints to the win

With valuable Olympic qualifying points up for grabs, the world up race in Hong Kong served as a chance for Zaferes, the American silver (mixed relay) and bronze (individual) medal winner from Tokyo, to earn valuable points to just get her into the final automatic qualifying race for the US Olympic team – WTCS Yokohama. A costly DNF at the Americas Triathlon Cup Miami a few weeks ago made a good performance in Hong Kong even more important for Zaferes.

Katie Zaferes heads to Hong Kong as she aims for another Olympics

In the water it was Great Britain’s Olivia Mathias and Sophie Alden leading the way, with American Summer Rappaport surging towards the front at the end of the swim. The long run to T1 seemed to derail the American, though, who found herself out of the breakaway group of seven that included Mathias, Alden, Zaferes, American Kirsten Kasper, Australian Emma Jeffcoat and Spain’s Cecelia Santamaria.

The lead group managed a 30-second lead into T2, an it wasn’t long before there were four women vying for three medals as Zaferes, Kasper, Rainsley and Mathias moved to the front.

With 500 m to go Kasper tried to make a move, but Rainsley was having none of it as she surged clear for a six-second win over Zaferes, with Kasper rounding out the podium.

Rainsley’s winning effort moved her up 20 spots in the Olympic qualifying ranking, but that still puts her sixth in the current Olympic rankings for Great Britain. Zaferes’ runner up, ironically, moves her one spot ahead of 2016 Olympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen and sixth American on the World Triathlon Olympic Ranking list.

Finishing ahead of the rest of the Americans is helpful for Zaferes in case no athletes achieve an automatic qualifying spot in Yokohama and the final two positions on the team are decided by committee.

Women’s podium quotes:

“I didn’t race much last year, I was quite injured so just being back on the start line was exciting,” said Rainsley after the race. “I felt a bit more relaxed because I thought, let’s just blow off the cobwebs. I’ve been training a lot with my partner Tom, who just podiumed at a 70.3 in Australia this morning, so it’s a good day for our household! I only just got on the front group, so was happy to make that and on the last run lap, I just sprinted as hard as I could and it paid off today.”

“The last race I did I didn’t finish and after a DNF it is always hard to put yourself in the right mental space for the next race,” said Zaferes. “I am really proud of myself for this race, it wasn’t an easy second, it was a hard-fought one. I am just really happy I strung together a decent swim, bike, run and transitions as well. The swim felt a little weird, but I just tried my best to stay relaxed, stay connected and take it piece by piece so that was a really big focus for this race, not to get too ahead of myself.”

“It’s great to be back on a podium, honestly I didn’t decide to do this race until two weeks ago so this is a great way to come to Hong Kong for the first time and get back on a podium,” said Kasper. “This early in the season, I didn’t know where my run fitness was so that was a mental battle. I wanted to try and be strong and make sure I was on the podium, maybe even fight for the win. Those girls were strong together and got me today but I am just glad to be part of that podium. That was validation that what I did this winter paid off and I am grateful to my team for helping me figure out how to get back to the podium.”

You can see the women’s results here.

Gonzalez powers clear for the win

Part of a breakaway group of 13, Spain’s Alberto Gonzalez was simply too strong for the other two men he was competing with in the closing stages of the run, Japan’s Kenji Nener and fellow Spaniard Antonio Serrat. Gonzalez would push clear for a five-second victory, while Serrat would win the sprint for the silver medal over Nener.

The win moves Gonzalez up to 28th in the Olympic qualifying ranking and third Spaniard, which puts him in a position to make the Spanish team for Paris this summer.

Quotes from the men’s podium finishers:

“We were always in the front with the guys and on the bike and we collaborated really well and kept the gap,” said Gonzalez. “Finally, on the run, it was Kenji and Antonio and I tried to do my best. I am really happy that Antonio has already qualified, we need a strong man in the Olympic team and he really is.”

“I tried to go really fast but then Alberto caught me and I knew his sprint was really good and I didn’t have any more today,” said Serrat. “I am happy for Alberto, he’s a good friend and team mate and I am really happy for him.”

“Of course it wasn’t the smartest race nor was it tactical, especially in this heat,” added Nener. “But if I am going to race against the best in the world, the level is up and I am not going to be leading so I have to put myself out there and race aggressively.”

The full men’s results can be found here