Former British middle distance champ Joe Skipper won out at the first Challenge Weymouth today, putting in the day's fastest bike split to overtake Stephen Bayliss and keep his lead throughout the run to the finish.
Choppy sea conditions brought a delayed start and curtailed 1.9km swim, with Bayliss leading out of the water, followed by Zoltan Petsuk (HUN), Craig Twigg (GBR) and Joe Skipper. Fellow Brit Joel Jameson battled himself into contention on the bike and found himself locking horns with Bayliss on the run, eventually winning the tussle for second place, with Bayliss collecting bronze.
Your Challenge Weymouth 2014 Champion Joe Skipper pic.twitter.com/WCpgTXE8QC
— Challenge Weymouth (@challengetriuk) September 14, 2014Women's race
In the women's race, Austria's Michi Herlbauer led the ladies out of the swim with more than a minute's advantage over Eleanor Haresign (GBR), and more than 4mins over third-placed Charisa Wernick (USA). The Austrian athlete held on to her lead for more than 60km of the bike before she was caught by Haresign and fellow Brit Joanna Carritt.
Out on the run and Haresign had built up a two-minute lead over Carritt by the halfway point, with Herlbauer around 5mins off the lead, and Hungary's Gabriella Zelinka eleven minutes back in fourth, followed by Tamsyn Hayes (NZL). There was to be no change in the podium positions, with Haresign crossing the line for gold around 5mins ahead of Carritt, with Herlbauer taking bronze a minute later.
We have our first ever female Challenge Weymouth champion Elearnor Haresign!!! pic.twitter.com/dRH1T5pa7c
— Challenge Weymouth (@challengetriuk) September 14, 2014Top five men
1. Joe Skipper (GBR) 7:49:03
2. Joel Jameson (GBR) 7:57:03
3. Stephen Bayliss (GBR) 8:04:37
4. Darren Jenkins (GBR / AUS) 8:12:03
5. Craig Twigg (GBR) 8:20:07
Top five women
1. Eleanor Haresign (GBR) 8:54:41
2. Joanna Carritt (GBR) 8:59:49
3. Michi Herlbauer (AUT) 9:01:14
4. Gabriella Zelinka (HUN) 9:13:58
5. Tamsyn Hayes (NZL) 9:20:34
For full results head here.
Were you racing in Weymouth today? Let us know in the comments below!