Brad Kahlefeldt wins Mooloolaba Triathlon ITU World Cup 2011

Brad Kahlefeldt has won his third Mooloolaba title and 7th ITU triathlon world cup title after winning the 2011 Mooloolaba Triathlon ITU World Cup. Brendan Sexton ran himself in to 2nd place for his best performance at this level with France’s David Hauss 3rd.For a majority of the bike leg there was a massive pack on the bike until a group of approximately 20 pulled away including Stuart Hayes, Courtney Atkinson and Kahlefeldt. Wild, Hayes and Fecskovics broke away with about a lap to go on the bike and then headed out on the the hilly, four lap run course just over a minute ahead for the chase pack. The chase pack, including Toft, Kahlefeldt and Atkinson quickly started to eat in to their lead.

Hayes lead early on with Kahlefeldt and Gomez close behind and a chase pack consisting of Atkinson, Sexton, Fecskovics, Hauss, Vidal. Sexton pulled away from the chase pack with the bell sounding for the final lap of the run. Kahlefeldt lead the race at this stage with Atkinson, Gomez, Wild, Hauss very close behind.

Down the final finish chute, Kahlefeldt kicked into another gear and powered to the line, leaving Sexton and Hauss to battle for second. Sexton passed Hauss for the silver in the final meters for his best career World Cup finish.

Brendan Sexton’s performance to run himself in to second place overall against some of the world’s best ITU Olympic distance triathletes was impressive and he continues to show that he is one of Australia’s next top triathletes and must have his eyes on a London 2012 Olympic spot.

“A podium in my home country with my family here to see, I can’t ask for anything more,” said Sexton after the race.

Aaron Royle, who was second last weekend in New Zealand in the ITU Oceania Cup race, had a tough race today. “Obviously I’m pretty dissapointed with my race. I was hoping to go a lot better and my recent form would indicate that. But that’s all apart of being an u/23 athlete, being consistent, performing week in week out in any conditions is what I need to work on.”

Aaron had a good start in the swim and was sitting in 10th place until the leaders took the wrong way to a buoy and after that he found himself in about 40th place at halfway. He worked hard to get back up to the main pack.

“My ride was good. It wasn’t to hard and with more then 50 in the front pack it was extremly important to hold a good position in the pack. I didn’t have the legs on the run today and in a race where 60 guys are in the front pack you need to have fast legs to be able to go with the runners.”

This was only Aaron’s 2nd world cup event and he will take a lot away from the race to work on. He heads to Ishigaki ITU Triathlon World Cup on April 17.