When the triathlon season is coming to an end the fans of the middle distance go to the Cabo de Gata and more specifically to the Playa de San José to contest the III Edition of the Triathlon Cabo de Gata-Nijar. Almost 400 participants took the start where more than 40 were women who came to 5 minutes of the male start.
The morning dawned with a wind that we all thought could be a major impediment, thus complicating the hard bike tour as we were confirmed by the participants at the time of finishing the test.
Women
It was the Austrian Sylvia Gehalbock- NBC Triteam (1º 4: 36: 08) the one that achieved the victory in spite of leaving to something more of 1 minute of the delayed water of Elena Aguilar- Triatomix Bikila MBI (2º 4: 42: 03). The grenadine wanted to return to the victory since it had been winning in both celebrated editions. The problem was when the Austrian took the bike and in the 6 Km and hunted Elena and finished off the race on foot achieving a lead in more than 6 minutes.
The experience in tests of this type of Sylvia was a sufficient endorsement to win. We remember that I dispute the last 70.3 World Championship achieving an 3ª place in its age group. What is clear is that she was delighted with the test and confessed in the end: "Next year I will return and try to win to tie victories with Elena" Cat Benger- AbcPure (3º 4: 50: 12), occupied the podium getting an important 3ª position.
Elena Aguilar said in goal: "Sylvia happened to me very soon by bike, I tried to follow her and I realized that I was rolling at a good pace and soon I forgot about the victory".
In the female categories the winners were; Veterans 2- Victoria Machota- Club Triathlon Eagles (5: 53: 59); Veterans 3- Birgit Salewski (6: 57: 49)
The men
In the men's test it was Juan Salvador Díaz Cuellar that for the third consecutive year achieved a position on the podium since in 2012 he was the winner and in 2013 he achieved third place after a comeback on foot. What is clear is that Juan Salvador at the moment is the clear dominator of this triathlon.
From the water it was Jesus Cabrero- CTDiablillos de Rivas (35º 4:44:17) and Antonio Benito- Nutrifitness Triathlon Albacete (retired) who made the difference and occupied the first positions, achieving a time of over 25 minutes when reaching T1.
Little by little, the test was reversed on the bicycle was Alejandro Jimenez Valverde-CTTechnificación de Torrevieja that with a part of 2: 11: 44 arrived at the T2 in first position. The problem is that abandonment due to indisposition and formed a struggle between those who would eventually occupy the first positions.
Rafael Lao (2nd 4:09:11) was ahead fighting for the victory and finally it was a comeback specialist who set the best time in the race on foot and crossed the finish line in 1st position. Juan Salvador Diaz Cuellar (1st 4:07:16) after scoring 1:15:07 in the final leg of the race on foot was the winner.
The third place was for Diego Paredes (3º 4: 12: 39), just arrived from Hawaii and arriving their bags and bike the day before. Almost time to ride the bike and be on the starting line.
The winners in the different categories were: Junior- Jose Antonio Serrano- Vila Raiders Olivenza (5: 49: 10); Sub 23- Teemu Michael Mattila- Benalmadena Triathlon (4: 35: 50); Veteran 1- Ramón Garcia Lopez- Urbiko TT Basauri (4: 30: 07); Veterans 2- Jose Miguel Lopez Alfaraz. Cartagena Triathlon Club (4: 49: 17).
Remarks:
See you in Cabo de Gata
Felipe Gutiérrez