Europe Triathlon

Lois Rosindale and Tom Bishop claimed a British double in Cremona at the ITU Sprint Triathlon European Cup.

Rosindale (pictured above) led home Tamsyn Moana-Veale (AUS) and Rebecca Robisch (GER) to win her first International race and record her first podium since the 2010 European Duathlon Championships in Edinburgh.

Bishop also made an impressive breakthrough, winning his first Elite title and his first International Triathlon race since the 2008 ETU Junior European Cup in Holten. He finished ahead of Igor Polyanskiy (RUS) and Florin Salvisberg (SUI).

ELITE WOMEN REVIEW

The Women’s race was intense right from the start. Italian athlete Annamaria Mazzetti made contact with Rosindale at the first buoy. Her wetsuit split whilst she was in fourth place and she had to withdraw from the race.

A small pack emerged at the front of the bike including Gaia Peron (ITA), Carolina Routier (ESP), Anna Godoy Contreras (ESP) and Veronica Signorini (ITA). This group of four set the initial pace but they were soon joined by a second pack and over the duration of the bike race the leading positions changed continuously.

Australian duo Tamsyn Moana-Veale and Charlotte McShane, along with Rosindale, had joined the front runners and tried to increase their advantage. Rebecca Robisch was hot on their heels and managed to keep pace with the front three.

The final sprint on the run saw Rosindale creep ahead and finish strongly ahead of Moana-Veale for the victory. Robisch’s efforts to keep pace were rewarded when she attacked and passed McShane and almost caught Moana-Veale but in the end she had to settle for third place on the podium.

ELITE MEN REVIEW

In the Men’s race nobody emerged with any great lead after the swim. Tommy Zafares (USA) and Igor Polyanskiy (RUS) were first out of the water but they were soon followed by the rest of the pack.

The bike leg was fast and furious with the lead changing several times between the main contenders who included Zafares, Polyanskiy, Fisher (AUS), Bishop (GBR), Salvisberg (SUI) and Italian duo Bargellini and Molinari who were cheered enthusiastically by the Cremona support.

But once onto the run leg, it was the Brit Bishop who opened up a gap to leave the field in his wake. Polyanskiy (RUS) and Salvisberg (SUI) were made to fight for their podium positions but they battled hard on the run to finish in the top three.