Europe Triathlon

Polikarpenko takes gold in Jordan
(10 March 2006)
For immediate release

JORDAN, Aqaba The Jordan Olympic Committees motto, Peace is greater than Gold rang true as the mens race saw competitors from around the world on the start line in Aqaba, Jordan in the name of sport. 

Volodymyr Polikarpenko of Ukraine took top prize in the mens race in a time of 1:47:33 with Javier Gomez of Spain and Bruno Pais of Portugal finishing second and third in times of 1:47:35 and 1:47:59 respectively. 

These young athletes coming up are something else, said Polikarpenko, after his narrow victory.  I raced hard though and am very impressed with the way my season has started.

Polikarpenko, Gomez and Pais were among the leaders the entire day as a pack of ten athletes formed early at the front of the bike. This pack, which included David Dellow (AUS), Richard Stannard (GBR), Andriy Glushchenko (UKR) and three Russians, worked well together stretching their lead to over 70 seconds.  The large chase group of over 20 athletes, including Ivan Rana (ESP), Mark Fretta (USA) and Sven Riederer (SUI), could not organise themselves and continued to lose time over the 40km.

I had a good race and ran very well but Polikarpenko was just too fast for me at the finish.  This is my first time on the podium and I am very excited, said 2003 Under 23 World Champion Javier Gomez.

Pais, Dellow, Polikarpenko and Gomex immediately established themselves as the stronger runners of the lead group by putting a small gap between themselves and the rest of the field.

This group stayed together most of run with Polikarpenko and Gomez breaking away and running stride for stride on the third lap.  With only 100 metres to go, Polikarpenko started his sprint on the decline coming back into the stadium area.  Gomez responded but the Ukrainian pulled away in the last steps taking the win by only 2 seconds.

Dellow and Glushchenko managed to hold of a charging Rana and Riederer to claim the fourth and fifth spots respectively.

Despite a few hazy, blustery days, which caused the cancellation of the swim of a local triathlon the day before, the sun came out today and the streets filled with people.  Many of the locals have never seen triathlon before but lined the course and cheered on the athletes.  All athletes and organisers are excited to return to the Aqaba World Cup for the next three years.

2006 ITU Aqaba World Cup Elite Men
1.POLIKARPENKO, Volodymyr (UKR)1:47:33
2.GOMEZ, Javier (ESP)1:47:35
3.PAIS, Bruno (POR)1:47:59
4.DELLOW, David (AUS)1:48:43
5.GLUSHCHENKO, Andriy1:48:55

Click here for full results and timing.
Click here for official photo gallery