Mario Mola repeats win at WTS Hamburg

Mario Mola won ITU World Triathlon Hamburg last weekend, becoming the first male to win twice at the notoriously tough sprint distance race. Here’s how the race played out.

Swim creates tight lead pack

Hamburg’s swim is short, decreasing the time the men’s field could spend to spread out and conquer the tough course. Matt Hauser of Australia launched out of the water in the lead, but he was chased by a heavy pack just moments behind him. Surprisingly, South African Richard Murray was near the back end of the race.

After the first transition, the lead group condensed to thirty men jammed together, making for very challenging conditions and leading to Spanish Fernando Alarza crashing, and being forced to pull out of the race.

Run makes the race

While the bikers flew into the second transition, the pack became tighter, keeping spectators on their toes, waiting to see what would finally break up the thick group.

After the transition though, a few fiercely strong runners broke away; Mola, Birtwhistle, Sissons, Gomez Noya and Norwegian Kirstian Blummenfelt. Initially, it seemed the group may stay together for the run, but just moments after the transition, Mario Mola broke away and never looked back.

Mola “happy to do a good swim and perform well”

Since the beginning of the race I think I swam pretty good, was able to stay quite close to the front in order to avoid possible crashes. I just heard that Fernando (Alarza) crashed so I hope he is okay, but then I felt really good on the run so I haven’t seen any times yet but I am very happy with the result.”

“I am very happy when I am able to do a good swim and perform well. It does not always happen, unless you are one of those five or six guys you are going to be in a fight, but today I ended up successfully out of the fight and I am pleased with that,” Mola told Triathlon.org.

Birtwhistle and proud Sissons complete podium

Behind him, the fierce battle continued with Gomez, Sissons and Birtwhistle powering past each other one after the other. 500 metres before the finish line though, Aussie Birtwhistle flew past the field toward the finish, racing into second place. New Zealander Sissons made it to third place.

“I could not be happier really, this is one of my favourite races and I have always wanted to get on the podium. I just felt good today, I put myself in a good position the whole time and just believed in myself and have had a pretty good season so far, so my confidence is growing. I am just so happy, I can’t believe it,” said Sissons.

Trizone wishes to congratulate all the athletes, especially Mola on his win.