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Battle of the long course kings at the inaugural URBAN 2.80.20

Clayton Fettell and Belinda Granger were in a league of their own today, taking out the inaugural URBAN 2.80.20 long course triathlon in Geelong, part of the 2012 Geelong Multi Sport Festival.

Fettell, the 2011 70.3 Ironman Port Macquarie winner, lead from start to finish over the 2km swim, 80km ride and 20km run course in an event which attracted the who’s who of long course racing in Australia.

The classic distance race has a long history in Geelong, with over 700 participants experiencing the thrill of racing at the traditional home of long course racing in Victoria.

A flying Fettell was first out of the water with Pete Jacobs hot on his heals as the pair headed out on the bike course 100m ahead of the chase group of three including Leon Griffin, Matt White, and Tim Berkel.

The bike course proved one of the toughest in long course racing with the wind digging into all competitors, including our race leaders. Fettell showed his dominance on the bike putting four minutes on the chase group during the bike leg elevating him into a league of his own.

“I had a lot of fun on the swim with Pete, but I got on the bike and it was really windy, so I had to push hard to pull away.

“I looked back and I saw the boys doing a bit of a ‘time-trialling’ after me! That just made me angry and it was the fuel I needed to push harder. It definitely wasn’t easy,” said Fettell.

The chase group banded together on the bike with Fettell firmly in their sights. Shepparton Half Ironman winner Griffin was second off the bike, followed by his ‘time-trialling’ mates Berkel and White.

On the run course, Griffin pushed hard to put time on Fettel, finishing approx. two and half minutes behind in 2nd place overall, with Berkel another minute back to come in third.

Griffin could not fault the winners form.

“On the run I could see Timmy coming at me fast. But hats off to Clayton, he was in another league today.

“He had a crack 100% all the way and deserves the win. He’s fantastic and has the goods to go all the way,” said Griffin.

Berkel, whilst happy with his 3rd place today, was also hindered by the winds on the bike course.

“I’ve been working hard on the swim and felt comfortable. But it was really tough on the bike,” said Berkel.

Unfortunately for Pete Jacobs, who placed 2nd in the 2011 Hawaii Ironman World Championships, it just wasn’t his day.

“Clayton had an awesome race today and I felt a bit ordinary.

“I had a mechanical problem on the bike at the 30km mark and I had to stop to put my chain ring on. When I came in off the bike, I just seized up when I started running,” said Jacobs.

In the female Elite field, it was Australia’s most decorated iron distance woman Belinda Granger blitzing the field finishing four minutes ahead of local triathlete Suzanne Blackwell, followed by Rebecca Hoschke in third.

Granger set the pace early in the piece coming out of the swim just behind Michelle Mitchell.

It was Granger’s work on the bike that set her race up today establishing a three minute lead into transition, ahead of both Blackwell and Hoschke.

Granger says she has spent her life running scared at the front of the pack.

“When you get to my age, you start to doubt whether you should be doing it, but I just love this sport to death and to have a win is just a bonus.

“I have spent my life running scared, but I had a good run today and I’ve been working really hard to put the confidence back into my running,” said Granger.

With Ironman Melbourne hot on everyone’s lips, it was Granger who seemed most excited with her performance today.

“I cannot wait for Ironman Melboune! It is going to be the best race Australia has ever seen. Not just the Australian girls, but we are also going to have so many internationals that are going to make it just great!” said Granger.

Amongst the throng of long course competitors today were over 800 participants in the Subaru Olympic Distance Triathlon.

The 1500m swim, 40km ride and 10km run course was tackled by some of the best in the business, with Matt Williams of NSW and Elly Franks of Victoria taking the prestigious victories.

With the race doubling as a qualifying race for the Age Group Olympic Distance World Championships in New Zealand this October, there were many triathletes putting in their best performance to secure their place in the Australian team.

Williams came from behind in the swim to lead through the bike and run leg, coming home in a time of 2:03.45. Close behind was Daudi Somi and Luke Gillmer.

In the women’s open category, everyone’s eyes were on race leader Elly Franks as she blitzed the field with a time of 2:18.33, after only signing up for the race yesterday.

“I decided last minute to have crack at the Olympic Distance after speaking with my coach about my race preparations for Ironman Melbourne.

“I haven’t raced since Busselton Ironman two months ago, so it was time to get ready. There’s no better way to snap back into it than racing as I just love racing and it’s such a great event down here,” said Franks.

The URBAN 2.80.20 and Subaru Olympic Distance Triathlon, both part of the second annual Geelong Multi Sport Festival have today proved to be a must-do race on the Australian triathlon calendar.

URBAN 2.80.20

Elite Men

• 1st Clayton Fettell – 3:35.58
• 2nd Leon Griffin – 3:38.49
• 3rd Tim Berkel – 3:39.59

Elite Female

• 1st Belinda Granger – 4:11.39
• 2nd Suzanne Blackwell – 4:15.27
• 3rd Rebecca Hoschke – 4:18.06

Subaru Olympic Distance Triathlon

Open Men

• 1st Matt Williams – 2:03.45
• 2nd Daudi Somi – 2:04.52
• 3rd Luke Gillmer – 2:06.24 

Open Female

• 1st Elly Franks – 2:28.33

To full results, Click Here