Abu Dhabi : Xterra World Champions Eneko Llanos of Spain and Julie Dibens of the United Kingdom asserted their supremacy in testing conditions to win the inaugural Abu Dhabi International Triathlon here yesterday.
With the Mercury rising sharply, the 3km swim followed by a gruelling 200km bike ride before the final 20km run certainly sapped the world class field with both Llanos and Dibens battling hard to clinch victories in the mens' and women's categories.
Llanos was powered home by a solid and steady bike leg followed by a pacey run and the Spaniard said that it was only in the final 500 metres that he was confident of winning.
"It was tough, very tough. Though the course is flat it was very tough. It was quite hot too. Especially the 200km bike section was really hard and there were not many places to take rest," said Llanos, who won $50,000 (Dh252,320). He said he would use the funds to pay off his house.
Llano finished the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's 223km debut event in 6 hours 34 minutes and 37 minutes — nearly a minute ahead of second placed Dirk Bockel from Luxemburg.
New format
"It is a new race and a new format. I just decided to keep taking decisions as the event progressed," he said.
Bockel, who finished second, said: "It may be winter for you guys but for me it was seven hours in the barbecue. It was very, very hot and everybody struggled."
"But the course was fantastic and when I came here I did not know what to expect. But the facilities and the organisers have been great. I hope I will get invited again next year," the Luxemburg native said.
Dibens overcame a flat tyre but used her experience to finish first and live up to the tag of favourite. Dibens finished ahead of Leanda Cave in a British 1-2 finish with Spain's Virginia Berasategui taking third place.
Dibens said: "I am very, very happy and exhausted! The course was great but the distance was too long for me really, which, combined with the heat, made things a little bit difficult. The organisation of the race was great and I am definitely looking forward to coming back next year."
Cave said: "The course was crazy hard, especially the bike leg, which is where I really had to push myself through. Abu Dhabi is beautiful though, and even though we were exhausted, I still enjoyed the course. Thank you Abu Dhabi for having me and see you again next year."
More than 800 athletes from 30 countries participated in Abu Dhabi's latest world-class sporting event.
"The successful staging of the ADIT is another feather in the cap for Abu Dhabi's sporting ambitions and lends significant credibility to our pursuit of establishing the emirate as a world-class centre of excellence for performance athletics events and as a leading alternative winter training base for those wanting to enjoy the warm Abu Dhabi sun and famed hospitality," said Faisal Al Shaikh, head of ADTA's Major Events Division.
RESULTS
Top five Men: 1. Eneko Llanos (ESP) 6:34:37; 2. Dirk Bockel (LUX) 6:35:30; 3. Rasmus Henning (DEN) 6:36:07; 4. Fraser Cartmell (GBR) 6:36:12; 5. Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) 6:36:31.
Top five Women: 1. Julie Dibens (GBR) 7:08:25; 2. Leanda Cave (GBR) 7:12:23; 3. Virginia Berasategui (ESP) 7:18:23; 4. Caroline Steffen (SUI) 7:21:01; 5. Carrie Lester (AUS) 7:23:04.
