Courtesy: ITU

A world-class field of women athletes gathered last weekend in Mazatlan, Mexico, for the fifth stop of the 2006 ITU World Cup series. Vanessa Fernandes continued her dominance by winning her eighth straight world cup in 2:01:24, coming one step closer to Emma Carney's record twelve straight. Finishing second was Anja Dittmer (GER) in 2:02:46 who did not disappoint on her return to the world cup circuit after taking a break in 2005. In third place was Canadian Kathy Trembley in 2:02:55, with her first world cup podium.

"I felt really strong out there," stated Fernandes. "I had a very good swim and came out with a good group for the bike. This is my kind of race."

Fernandes had a strong swim coming out of the water with a large group of seventeen women who stayed together for the entire bike ride settling into a comfortable pace and setting things up for a scorching run. It was just that as temperatures climbed quickly out on the exposed course.

"It was very hot on the course. There was no shade anywhere," said second place Dittmer. "A week a go I was training in the snow in Germany."

Once on the run Fernandes quickly opened a 30 second lead on the first lap of the four lap run. From there it grew and no one was able to catch her. Dittmer and Tremblay ran together, feeding off of each other, but could not close the gap.

"This is my first podium. I came off the bike in a good spot and I just went for it. This is a new experience for me," stated Tremblay.

Other notables were Andrea Whitcombe (GBR) who had another strong race finishing in the top ten; Lauren Groves (CAN) as she flew through the run moving up from the chase pack, which was down 90 seconds, to sixth place; and Laura Bennett (USA) who, with her ninth place finish, moves her into first place in the World Cup standings.

As the afternoon sun peaked the men hit the water for the 2006 ITU Mazatlan World Cup triathlon. A star-studded field was in Mexico for the fifth stop on the 2006 World Cup tour. Rasmus Henning (DEN) was the winner in 1:49:16 after a strong swim put him with the lead group for the entire race. The silver medal went to Andy Potts (USA) after narrowly defeating Jan Frodeno (GER) at the line. Their finishing times were 1:49:36 and 1:49:37 respectively.

"The race was perfect for me," said Henning. "I was close to the front the whole time. When we were biking I knew I was going to win this."

A large group of men came out of the water together that included the three podium finishers. It was a group of nine that went for the early break and worked very well together stretching their lead to almost three minutes heading into transition two.

"We were working so hard on the bike. Everyone was shouting at each other to keep working and keep going," Potts explained.

The chase group grew to 34 people during the bike but continued to lose time. It was not until the fifth of seven laps that Stephane Poulat (FRA) made a break to try and bridge the gap. The remaining USA men tried to follow suit by pursuing Poulat but they could not keep up or catch the leaders.

In the first kilometre of the run Henning, Potts, Frodeno and Bruno Pais (POR) broke away and ran together until Henning took the lead and never looked back leaving the other podium spots up for grabs. It was Potts and Frodeno who made their move with 200 metres to go. They battled stride for stride all the way to the finish when Potts stole half a step and claimed the silver medal.

"It was like a replay of the 2004 World Championships. I got ahead a little then he [Potts] got ahead, then me, then he was just too strong at the end," said Frodeno. "I'm really happy to be on the podium in the first race of the season."

Many of the race favourites including Hunter Kemper (USA), Simon Whitfield (CAN) and Ivan Rana (ESP) that excel on the run were just too far back coming off the bike to be able to reach the podium today. Kemper was however able to claim top spot in the World Cup standings with his eighth place finish.

So far the 2006 world cup season has seen many new faces on the podium and is surely a testament to what is in store for the remainder of the year.

2006 ITU Mazatlan World Cup - Elite Women

1. FERNANDES, Vanessa (POR) 2:01:24

2. DITTMER, Anja (GER) 2:02:46

3. TREMBLAY, Kathy (CAN) 2:02:55

4. WHITCOMBE, Andrea (GBR) 2:03:17

5. BURGOS, Ana (ESP) 2:03:48

6. GROVES, Lauren (CAN) 2:03:54

7. MURUA, Ainhoa (CAN) 2:04:06

8. TUCKER, Helen (GBR) 2:04:20

9. BENNETT, Laura (USA) 2:04:42

10. SAVEGE, Jill (CAN) 2:04:50

2006 ITU Mazatlan World Cup - Elite Men

1. HENNING, Rasmus (DEN) 1:49:16

2. POTTS, Andy (USA) 1:49:36

3. FRODENO, Jan (GER) 1:49:37

4. PAIS, Bruno (POR) 1:49:42

5. UNGER, Daniel (GER) 1:50:25

6. POULAT, Stephane (FRA) 1:51:04

7. RANA, Ivan (ESP) 1:51:55

8. KEMPER, Hunter (USA) 1:51:57

9. WHITFIELD, Simon (CAN) 1:52:05

10. SUDRIE, Sylvain (FRA) 1:52:18