Sunday, August 23, 2009
ITU RELEASE: Olympic Champion Gets first major Win in Yokohama

Jan Frodeno of Germany finally shakes the monkey off his back for a win at the Yokohama Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series

Yokohama, Japan (August 23, 2009) - Reigning Olympic Champion, Jan Frodeno of Germany, finally claimed his first major win outside of the Olympic Games today at the Yokohama Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series event in a time of 1 hour 44 minutes and 31 seconds.  Thousands of spectators lined the streets of the Tokyo suburb to watch a daring breakaway on the bike and a solid run by the German, giving him his first world series win.  Eighteen seconds behind him was New Zealand's Kris Gemmell in second place as he outsprinted defending world champion Javier Gomez from Spain. 

"After Hamburg I was really disappointed and I went back to the drawing board to refocus," said Frodeno.  "Today was awesome.  Thanks to the boys, Atko [Courtney Atkinson] and Maik [Petzold].  If they hadn't gone on the bike you never know what would have happened.  I'm already looking ahead with one eye on next season.  I'll take this win with confidence."

Despite a non-wetsuit swim the men were to exit the water in one large group to head onto the bike course.  2007 world champion Daniel Unger of Germany pulled out early with an allergic reaction to a jellyfish sting acquired during the swim warm up.

Over the first 25 kilometres of the bike all of the top contenders seemed content to sit and wait until Australia's Courtney Atkinson leapt from the pack to test his legs.  It was not long until the German duo of Frodeno and Maik Petzold decided to join the strong Aussie at the front.  Working in tandem the three leaders managed to put 41 seconds into the unorganized chase group including Gemmell and Gomez.

Frodeno was the one to show strength in pulling away from Petzold and Atkinson early in the run.  The chase group of Gomez, Gemmell and young Laurent Vidal of France swallowed up Petzold in the first lap and then Atkinson before the four kilometre mark.  Early on it looked as though Frodeno would be next after the chasing trio knocked his lead down to 22 seconds within the first lap.  It was not to be as Frodeno found his second wind on the third lap and stretched his lead.  With time to spare the Olympic champion slapped hands and played to the large crowd gathered at the finish line, relishing every minute of his first Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series win. 

With three kilometres to go Gomez cranked up the speed, dropping Vidal but not Gemmell.  The crafty Kiwi stayed on the Spaniards heels until the final few hundred metres when he bolted away. 

"I asked him [Gomez] if he was ready for a sprint and he said 'no, not really'," laughed Gemmell.  "I said before London that the goal was the end of the year and my form is coming together.  What a great day for Frodeno, anyone who races like that deserves to win."

"It was an uncomfortable week, the podium is good but it was not a good day for me," said Gomez.  "I did not feel good all day and I don't do well in the heat but I'm happy seeing as I crashed in London only a week ago."

The duo of Atkinson and Petzold ultimately paid the price for the breakaway, fading throughout the run to finish in eight and tenth respectively.

Gemmell's second place moves him into third in the rankings.  Gomez's third place keeps him in second and within 351 points of series leader Alistair Brownlee heading to the Grand Final in Gold Coast, Australia in three weeks time.

"You never know what can happen on the day.  So I will be ready to give my best in Gold Coast," answered Gomez when asked if Brownlee can be caught in Gold Coast.

Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series
Official Rankings - Round 7 of 8
1st - Alistair Brownlee (GBR)        3,200 pts
2nd - Javier Gomez (ESP)            2,849
3rd - Kris Gemmell (NZL)             2,559
4th - Maik Petzold (GER)              2,493
5th -Laurent Vidal (FRA)              2,404

Click here for full rankings 

Yokohama Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Men - Unofficial Results
Gold - Jan Frodeno (GER)            01:44:31
Silver - Kris Gemmell (NZL)           01:44:49      +:18
Bronze - Javier Gomez (ESP)        01:44:52      +:21
4th - Laurent Vidal (FRA)             01:45:05      +:34
5th - Bevan Docherty (NZL)         01:45:39      +1:08
6th - Jarrod Shoemaker (USA)      01:45:49      +1:18
7th - Yulian Malyshev (RUS)         01:45:51      +1:20
8th - Courtney Atkinson (AUS)      01:46:07      +1:36
9th - Dan Wilson (AUS)               01:46:18      +1:47
10th - Maik Petzold (GER)            01:46:35      +2:04
Official full field results will be available here

The race was standard Olympic distance: 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10-kilometer run.  Click here for more event information.

For more information on the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series, please visit www.triathlon.org

Up Next: The Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Grand Final in Gold Coast, Australia, September 12/13.  Live broadcast will be available at www.triathlon.org/tv

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