Jodie Stimpson continued her strong start to the season with second place at the ITU Mooloolaba World Cup in Queensland. The 24 year old from Birmingham finished second to Germany’s Anne Haug.
Olympic bronze medallist, Emma Moffatt of Australia, led out the swim, with Stimpson also part of the small group that would stay together on the bike and establish a lead of over three minutes by the start of the run.
Haug, Stimpson, Moffatt and Andrea Hewitt (New Zealand) showed their class by breaking from the rest of the group. Hewitt was the first to drop off the pace, leaving three to fight for the medals with 5km to go. Despite the support of the home fans, it was Moffatt who was the next to drop off, and the race was between Stimpson and Haug.
Haug made a move with just over a kilometre to run, kicking clear of Stimpson to win her first ITU World Cup race.
Stimpson, who has based herself in Australia since early January, said: “To be second and on the podium on one of the hardest courses of the year is great. I have like a second family out here so it is awesome to race well in front of them.
“I train with Anne day in day out and I know how strong she is, if I am running with her I know I am running well. She just had me at the end, I am working on that it is a work in progress.
“I am now off to New Zealand and then San Diego, I really want a strong finish in the World Triathlon Series this year. That is the big goal.”
London 2012 Olympic silver medal winner, Javier Gomez (Spain) won yesterday’s men’s race. Britain’s Stuart Hayes was eighth.
The Barfoot & Thompson World Triathlon Auckland takes place 6-7 April in New Zealand. It will be the first race in the 2013 ITU World Triathlon Series, which culminates with Pru Health World Triathlon Grand Final in London, 11-15 September.
RESULTS
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
WOMEN
1 Anne Haug, GER 2:03:31
2 Jodie Stimpson, GBR 2:03:53
3 Emma Moffatt, AUS 2:04:24
4 Andrea Hewitt, NZL 2:05:13
5 Natalie Van Coevorden, AUS 2:07:03
MEN
1 Javier Gomez, ESP 1:54:32
2 Matt Chrabot, USA 1:54:53
3 Peter Kerr, AUS 1:54:55
4 Bryan Keane, IRL 1:55:02
5 Ryan Bailie, AUS 1:55:20
Image: Delly Carr/ITU
