Laura Philipp and Franz Löschke are the winners of the fourth St. Moritz triathlon. In torrential rain, the two Germans won the sprint distance race. The duathlon was won by Thomas Huwiler from Geneva and triathlete Nicola Spirig, who competed in their first competition after the maternity break.
As every year, top national and international athletes spend their summer weeks in St. Moritz to train in a unique, stimulating climate. They use the St. Moritz triathlon and duathlon as competition training.
The men's triathlon couldn't have been more exciting: The two German long-distance specialists Franz Löschke and Andreas Dreitz fought a thrilling duel. Löschke was the first to come from Lake St. Moritz, which was “warm” at 17 degrees Celsius.
After the 20 km cycle route via Pontresina and Samedan, Dreitz then led, but he relinquished the lead on the running track through the Stazerwald to Löschke and finally had to admit defeat by 28 seconds. South African James Cunnama finished third.
For women, German Laura Philipp laid the foundation for her success on the bike track: Coming out of the water in third place, she drove the fastest in the rain and was then also the best runner in the women's field. Chilean Barbara Riveros Diaz finished second behind her, followed by Zurich-based Nina Derron.
Successful comeback for Nicola Spirig in duathlon
The comeback of Olympic triathlon champion Nicola Spirig after her second baby break was made-to-measure: Spirig won the duathlon rain race confidently, although she had only seen the competition as a training session. Coach Brett Sutton had prescribed two fast running routes for her.
“Brett said I could cycle really slowly. But I probably can't slowly,” Spirig laughed after her start-finish victory. After winning in the duathlon, she immediately put in another training session and started triathlon as a cyclist in a team of three.
The Engadin by choice, who had given birth to her second child at the end of May, wants to be ready for major triathlon competitions again by autumn.
Behind Spirig, orienteer Sabine Hauswirth was in second place, and Swiss duathlon champion Melanie Maurer came third. Thomas Huwiler from Geneva won the men's duathlon ahead of Felix Köhler from Grenzach (BL) and Fridelance Valentin from Yverdon.
Huwiler had already led after the first run and did not take away the victory on the bike and the second running track.
The children were more lucky in the weather than the adults on Saturday: In bright sunshine, 180 girls and boys between 5 and 14 years of age competed in KidsCup by Nicola Spirig; another record number of participants for the Olympic Champion's youth initiative. The KidsCup by Nicola Spirig is intended to encourage children and young people to exercise and compete with their peers in swimming, cycling and running.
Results
4th St. Moritz triathlon: 500 m swimming | 20 km bike | 6.6 km run
Women's triathlon
- Philip Laura (GER) - 1:07:12
- Riveros Diaz Barbara (CHI) - + 4:32
- Derron Nina (SUI) - + 5:55
Men's triathlon
- Loeschke Franz (GER) - 1:03:01
- Dreitz Andreas (GER) - + 0:28
- Cunnama James (RSA) - + 3:05
Duathlon: 6.6 km run | 20 km bike | 6.6 km run
Duathlon women
- Spirig Nicola (Home of Triathlon) - 1:30:11
- Hauswirth Sabine (Ski+Bike Center) - + 1:14
- Bricklayer Melanie (Bern) - + 3:24
Duathlon men
- Huwiler Thomas (Triathlon Club Geneva) - 1:19:25
- Köhler Felix (TV Grenzach) - + 1:25
- Fridelance Valentine (Triathlon Club Yverdon-les-Bains) - + 2:57
Pictures to download from Flickr
Under www.flickr.com/photos/gartmannbiz/albums/72157655794778155 images can be downloaded free of charge for editorial use.
Photos: Kirsten Stenzel Maurer, www.kirstenstenzel.ch
infos
Home of Triathlon St. Moritz Engadin Association
Reto Hug, President
mail@retohug.ch
+41 79 307 17 50
Home of Triathlon St. Moritz
St. Moritz hoteliers, providers of training and sports infrastructure, Engadin sports supporters and tourism professionals founded the Home of Triathlon St. Moritz association in 2015 to bring more triathletes and other multi-sport athletes to the Upper Engadine for training.
Individual athletes and teams receive special offers for training in the three sports, stays in hotels and apartments, and special services. All offers are specifically tailored to the needs of triathletes and are also open to locals and young athletes.