Both France's Bertrand Billard and Australia's Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) claimed their first ever ITU Long Distance World Championship titles on Saturday in Belfort, France. Billard's win was a treat for local French fans, while Hauschildt's gold came as a surprise as it was her first time ever competing in an ITU Long Distance race. The adverse weather conditions resulted in the format being altered before the race, with the swim omitted and the course reverting to a 9.5km run, 87km bike and 20km run.
Women's Review
Melissa Hauschildt (AUS) clawed back a three-minute deficit going into the final 20km run with a superb performance to become the 2013 ITU Long Distance world champion in Belfort on Saturday.
Hauschildt's time of four hours, 42 minutes and 39 seconds denied Camilla Pedersen (DEN) victory, who has to settle for world championship silver medal for the second year running.
Hauschildt was the early pace setter, clocking a time of 35:19 for the first 9.5km run. But with harsh conditions forecast she took a long first transition to add extra clothing, which allowed Pedersen to take the lead.
It looked like it would prove to be a costly decision as Pedersen led until the second lap of the 20km run. But Hauschildt fought back in the final stages and finished in 4:44:15, 1 minute and 36 seconds ahead of Pedersen.
Rachel McBride (CAN) claimed bronze in 4:52:03, finishing just 13 seconds ahead of Jeanne Collonge (FRA) and preventing France from having a world championship medallist in the women's elite race.
Men's Review
Billard delighted locals in Belfort by storming to victory to claim gold in four hours, eight minutes and 45 seconds while Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) won silver in 4:10:43. Dirk Bockel (LUX) repeated his third-place finish in last year's race by ensuring bronze with a time of 4:11:51.
Billard becomes France's fourth world champion at the long distance format - more than any other nation - and afterwards said his gamble during the Ballon d'Alsace bike climb paid off. "I did not listen to my brother who told me not to go too hard. I took a risk, I attacked the Ballon d'Alsace. I had no pressure on me, it was my first world championship. I was motivated, I thought of my family. Now I want to share it with them."
A fast transition after the bike allowed Bozzone to take second place and the New Zealander then clocked the fastest time for the 20km (1:13:34) to ensure silver medal, with Bockel settling for a second bronze in as many years.
Billard was not about to deny giving the home crowd something to cheer about. With a strong 20km run split of 1:13:53, he ensured his first world championship victory.
Billard becomes France's fourth world champion at the long distance format - more than any other nation - and afterwards said his gamble during the Ballon d'Alsace bike climb paid off. A fast transition after the bike allowed Bozzone to take second place and the New Zealander then clocked the fastest time for the 20km (1:13:34) to ensure silver medal, with Bockel settling for a second bronze in as many years.
