Åsa Lundström and Gustavo Rodríguez win the Bilbao Triathlon

In the Olympic distance the triumph has been for the Australian Bailie and the Chilean Riveros, both already qualified for the Games of Rio de Janeiro  

 The Swedish Åsa Lundström and Galician Gustavo Rodríguez Saturday have been proclaimed winners of the Half distance test of the VI. edition of Bilbao Triathlon, that has developed in a hot climate, with more than a thousand participants between the two modalities, and with thousands of spectators filling the circuits of the event in the city center.

In masculine category, the current champion of Spain and Iberoamerica, Gustavo Rodríguez, has been able to write his name by third consecutive year in the palmarés of the test after surpassing the Russian Stanislav Krylov in little more than half a minute after certifying the comeback in the last three kilometers of the foot race.

 The third place has been for Extremadura Diego Paredes, which has gone from less to more to finish on the podium. After the 1.900 meters of swimming in the Ría, the control of the Venezuelan has taken Velasquez, with Krylov in a second group and with Rodríguez more than four minutes from the lead.

In the bicycle segment, the Russian took the lead, with Rodríguez second at almost three minutes and with Okamika, Elgezabal, Carnevali, Paredes and Osoro at six. The final 21 kilometers have served so that Rodríguez was able to cut a four-minute disadvantage with respect to Krylov, as happened last year, leaving his opponent with honey on his lips and becoming the triathlete with the most victories in Bilbao , beating Mikel Elgezabal's double.

The American Andrew Starykowicz did not start in the test and Bruno País, another of the favorites, had to withdraw due to physical problems. "I am very excited to find gratification to the work that I have been doing for so long to prepare for this career, and more when I thought that I was not going to be able to come back. I did not come out of the water very well, on the bike I was good and in the race I tried to risk and give everything everything to achieve the third consecutive victory, it turned out well. The warmth and affection that people here give me is incredible and I will surely return for the fourth txapela ", says the winner.

 LUNDSTRÖM SEALS ITS DOUBLE  

In the women Åsa Lundström has returned to put his name in the list of winners of the race, after winning for the first time in 2013.

 After a frenetic chase in the race on foot he managed to cross the finish line in first place ahead of the Catalan Judith Corachán, second also in 2015, and Virginia Berasatategui, winner in 2011 and 2012. The first to come out of the water was Corachán, closely followed by Berasategui and with the Swede in fifth place.

 In the bicycle sector Corachán has yielded its leadership to Berasategui and the second place to Lundström, placing third. Thus, the Nordic triathlete of the Orbea Orca team has faced the start of the foot race with just over a minute behind Berasategui, which she was able to pass in the first third of the foot race.

The same has been done by Corachán, the current Spanish champion who has been able to climb to second place in the final kilometers. “I have been able to really enjoy the race, the route and the spirits of the people. Three years ago I could not do it due to bad weather and I am very happy about it ”, says Lundström, whose main objective of the season is the Ironman of Hawaii.

 BAILIE Y RIVEROS, OLYMPIC STARS IN BILBAO

In the Olympic modality, distance that has been released this year in Bilbao, the winners have been the Australian Ryan Bailie and the Chilean Barbara Riveros. Both triathletes, who will take part in the Olympic Games of Rio de Jaineiro next summer, have not had problems to impose their dominance.

 In the men's category the winner was the australian Ryan Bailie, ahead of the Canadian Alexis Lepage promise, and the Bilbao, Kristian Quintans, second and third after the disqualification of the British Douglas Roberts and George Goodwin.

 The 'aussie', who will seek a medal in the Olympics against rivals such as Gómez Noya, Mola or the Brownle brothers, has left the water in the lead, in the company of Douglas and Lepage, and has gradually been imposing its dominance up to the line of goal.  

“The toughness of the test has been a good test for the Games and I am happy with the result. I really liked the route and the atmosphere and I think I was able to demonstrate my level. Those from Brazil are going to be my first Olympics and I think I can do it well, "he said.  

In the women's category, the victory was for the Chilean Barbara Riveros, ahead of the Australian Charlotte McShane and the Navarrese Nuria Rodriguez. The Chilean Olympian, who will also be present at the Olympics in Brazil, has left the water in the leading group and has taken advantage of the bike segment to take a lead that would not leave until crossing the finish line.  

"Next week I have ITU World Series and this has been a good test. I had better feelings than expected because I was a little injured on the ankle. By bike I was able to open a gap and arrive with an advantage to manage it in the last sector, although McShane was running very well ", said the Chilean.