Flora Duffy and Kristian Blummenfelt earn debut titles at World Cup

In the final World Cup race ahead of the Rio Olympic Games, the men’s and women’s elite races produced thrilling races that set the scene for unpredictable and phenomenal race in Brazil. Hosting the event for the very first time, Flora Duffy (BER) and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) earned the debut titles of the 2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup.

Women’s Review

Becoming the first elite to ever win the event title, Bermuda’s Flora Duffy scored gold at the 2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup.

In the last major ITU competition before the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games begin for triathlon, Duffy secured the first-place medal right before having to head south to race on August 20. By executing her famous cycle and then continuing the power onto the run, Duffy grabbed her first World Cup win of the season and first since 2012.

Duffy said of her win, It kind of came as a bit of a surprise, I came in here pretty tired just came from a big block of training for Rio, but just new I wanted to get one last hit out, so I knew it could go either way. It definitely hurt out there, but I am glad with how it went. But yeah it just did not feel too pretty.

Taking the silver medal was Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle, who also snagged a piece of hardware just in time before she sets to compete on the world’s stage in the Olympics. While the bronze was awarded to  Taylor Knibb (USA), who stepped onto her first World Cup podium.

I didn’t know how it was going to go. I have not raced since Yokohama, but I knew that coming here was good timing for Rio. So I am pretty relieved that I put up a good result, said Gentle of her podium performance.

2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup
750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run

1.	Flora Duffy	BER		01:03:00
2.	Ashleigh Gentle	AUS		01:03:24
3.	Taylor Knibb	USA		01:03:44
4.	Emma Jackson	AUS		01:04:16
5.	Lindsey Jerdonek	USA		01:04:24
6.	Jolanda Annen	SUI		01:04:33
7.	Kirsten Kasper	USA		01:04:43
8.	Yuka Sato	JPN		01:05:04
9.	Taylor Spivey	USA		01:05:27
10.	Paula Findlay	CAN		01:05:39

Men’s Review

Cruising through the course and never losing his leader position in the last two disciplines, Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt secured the first-ever men’s elite title at the 2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup.

While the event was the last major ITU competition before a majority of the elites head to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games, the opportune win came right before Blummenfelt competes on August 18.

After exiting the waters slightly behind and then quickly recovering and transitioning into the front pack, Blummenfelt held onto the advantage until he blasted away on the run to grab his second World Cup title of the season.

It is definitely nice. We have been doing a bit of training in the last couple of weeks and my body is responding well. One day after altitude it can be good and the next it can be crappy, especially after so close to coming down, the condition could be good or bad, so I am pleased to see that it was a good one today.

The remaining two spots were earned by two World Cup podium first-timers. Canada’s own Matt Sharpe claimed the silver medal, while the bronze went to USA’s Eric Lagerstrom.

I am pretty shattered right now, in all aspects, physically, emotionally, spiritually. But it was beautiful out there, amazing crowds, I am just stunned right now,” Sharpe said of getting onto his first World Cup podium. I haven’t raced much in Canada in the last few years, I have had a bit of a struggle over the last couple of years, so for me it is just nice to have a good performance for all of my supporters. All of my family and my friends, they sacrifice a lot for me, so to do this, it is all for them.

2016 Montreal ITU Triathlon World Cup
750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run

1.	Kristian Blummenfelt	NOR		00:57:29
2.	Matthew Sharpe	CAN		00:58:43
3.	Eric Lagerstrom	USA		00:58:47
4.	Maximilian Schwetz	GER		00:58:54
5.	Jumpei Furuya	JPN		00:58:57
6.	Franz Loeschke	GER		00:59:09
7.	William Huffman	USA		00:59:12
8.	Kevin Mcdowell	USA		00:59:16
9.	Diogo Sclebin	BRA		00:59:20
10.	Simon De Cuyper	BEL		00:59:24