Japan’s Takumi Hojo victorious in the European Triathlon season’s opener in Quarteira
Japan’s Takumi Hojo was victorious in the European Triathlon season’s opener in Quarteira with a race to the line for sliver with Seth Rider (USA) just pipping Britain pocket-dynamo Dan Dixon who took home bronze.
Bathed in Algarve sunshine the athletes lined up on the beachfront for the 1500m sea-swim with a strong group forming a snake like procession of swimmers as the athletes ran up the exit ramp to T1 bunching up into a number of bike pack formations.
The front pack of twelve included British athletes Sam Dickinson, Dan Dixon and Conner Bentely and as they rode along relatively 40k flat bike course. Keeping them company were the likes of Devay (HUN) Seth Rider (USA) and Takumi Hojo (JPN)
Just like in the women’s race the chasing packs could make no inroad into the front packs lead and then out of the blue Bentley made either a brilliant tactical move or committed cycling suicide by making a solo breakaway, although this did not seem of any concern to the rest of the pack as no-one attempted to close him down.
Bently entered and exited T2 five seconds ahead of the rest and at this point it became apparent this was going to be a runner’s race to the tape from this front group over the 10km run.
Bentley gallantly tried to break the chasing group but this was a one tactic to many as the rest were pacing and stream-lining themselves to close the gap. Bentley’s attack was soon drawn in as the two Japanese athletes of Hojo and Kenji Nener took the lead together with Seth Rider (USA).
It was the lighting fast Hojo who was able to maintain the pace and pull away from Seth Rider with the British pocket-dynamo Dixon making a late surge into third place.
As Hojo crossed the winning line Dixon was in second place but a 100 dash to the line saw the American Rider retake second place for silver with Dixon taking the bronze to make it three podiums this month having already snatched a gold and bronze in two USA triathlon races days earlier.
Just outside the podium positions the Brits Bentley came in 7th and Dickinson 12th with Barclay Izzard coming in a strong 14th. Other Brits results were Grant Sheldon 17th, Thomas Bishop 22nd, Harry Leleu 24th, Jack Willis 38th and Cameron Main DNF.
