NEWS

Reid crowned U23 World Champion after summoning up an almighty finish

By Doug Gray | 14 Sep, 2018
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New Zealand’s Tayler Reid became the 2018 ITU U23 World Champion on Saturday afternoon in the Gold Coast sunshine, conjuring up a brave finale having been side-by-side with Britain’s Samuel Dickinson and France’s Leo Bergere for the majority of the 10km run. Reid had been among the leaders from the first strokes of the swim but had to work hard with the attentions of a strong field ever present, only to pull away with 2km to go and never looked back.

New Zealand’s Tayler Reid became the 2018 ITU U23 World Champion on Saturday afternoon in the Gold Coast sunshine, conjuring up a brave finale having been side-by-side with Britain’s Samuel Dickinson and France’s Leo Bergere for the majority of the 10km run. Reid had been among the leaders from the first strokes of the swim but had to work hard with the attentions of a strong field ever present, only to pull away with 2km to go and never looked back.

With Dickinson holding on for silver, an astounding final push from Hungary’s Bence Bicsak saw him over the line in third ahead of Bergere.

“I can’t even believe it. I’ve never felt something so good, this is what I have wanted,” said a delighted Reid. “I have wanted to be world champion for ten years but never been close. Today it all came together, it was great. I saw my family all come around on every lap and I just felt good and I thought I am going to go for it now, full gas, full gas to the finish.”

At the end of the two-lap, 1.5km swim, it was the USA’s Alec Wilimovsky who was first out of the water, Reid right with him and Mark Devay (HUN) a few seconds back. By the time the athletes came out of transition, the New Zealander was out front, but was joined quickly as an organised group of eleven worked efficiently to build up a lead.

That was the way much of the 40km ride played out, the leaders’ advantage growing gently with each passing lap while the two chase groups drew closer, Hungarian Bicsak driving the first 80 seconds back and Britain’s Alex Yee the third, a further 100 seconds and three minutes off the leaders.

By the time the front runners came into T2, the lead was a solid 92 seconds, the likes of Norway’s Jorgen Gundersen, Japan’s Ryousuke Maeda and Dickinson all spying their opportunity for a podium place.

Like the bike, the run settled into a pattern early on. Reid, Dickinson and Bergere were shoulder to shoulder as they broke away, seemingly tapping into each other’s energy reserves such was their proximity. Gundersen was eight seconds back after the first lap, while further behind, Bicsak was beginning to power through the field, as was Yee.

At the bell, it still looked like nothing could touch the front three, Gundersen held 4th and Bicsak was still 32 seconds off the leaders, but the drama all unfolded over the last 2.5km.

First of all Reid made a brave early move, not wanting to risk a fight down the chute. Bergere tried to react but Reid stood firm and pulled away, leaving Bergere and Dickinson to battle second and third. The Brit’s legs went with 1km to go and it looked like he might falter, only to find another gear and push on. All the while, Bicsak was closing in on Bergere, finally passing him in front of the grandstand and powering over the line in delight.

“I centred myself and the gamble paid off. I didn’t want it to come down to the last bit, I wanted to try and seal the deal and it just happened. I am so stoked,” added Reid as his family celebrated with him. “It was important to make the move when I did. There was great work from Leo (Bergere) and Sam (Dickinson) so I was definitely fearing them coming back at me. Credit to the boys they made it really hard out there.”

Second-placed Dickinson was physically and emotionally spent as he crossed the line, but delighted with second, saying; “It is definitely up there as one of the hardest races I have done. I tried to kick with Tayler but I was already on the limit, if I am being honest with you. From there I knew it would be a foot race with Bergere. To come away with a silver medal is a really good result but obviously congratulations to Tayler who was the faster man on the day and had a really gutsy run to finish off. Leo also pushed me all the way and a big shout out to the other two Brits in the race who were phenomenal. We all like to race for the flag when we hit the start line so I am really super proud to do it for GB.”

Bicsak was equally thrilled with third, saying; “It was unbelievable. I had a terrible swim, it was a crazy day in the water for me. I was in the second group on the bike and I tried to work very hard not to let the first group get too far ahead. Before I started running I wasn’t thinking I could make the podium - it was more than one-and-a-half minutes away. It is unbelievable that I got the podium finish.”

For the full men’s results click here.

Related Event: 2018 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast
12 - Sep, 2018 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Men
1. Vincent Luis FRA 01:44:34
2. Mario Mola ESP 01:44:48
3. Richard Murray RSA 01:44:56
4. Pierre Le Corre FRA 01:45:01
5. Kristian Blummenfelt NOR 01:45:04
6. Henri Schoeman RSA 01:45:06
7. Jacob Birtwhistle AUS 01:45:46
8. Jonathan Brownlee GBR 01:45:51
9. Marten Van Riel BEL 01:45:56
10. Tyler Mislawchuk CAN 01:45:57
Results: Elite Women
1. Ashleigh Gentle AUS 01:52:00
2. Vicky Holland GBR 01:52:02
3. Katie Zaferes USA 01:52:33
4. Laura Lindemann GER 01:52:53
5. Kirsten Kasper USA 01:53:15
6. Melanie Santos POR 01:53:26
7. Taylor Spivey USA 01:53:28
8. Georgia Taylor-Brown GBR 01:53:31
9. Leonie Periault FRA 01:53:33
10. Jodie Stimpson GBR 01:53:41
Results: U23 Men
1. Tayler Reid NZL 01:44:08
2. Samuel Dickinson GBR 01:44:20
3. Bence Bicsák HUN 01:44:31
4. Léo Bergere FRA 01:44:39
5. Jørgen Gundersen NOR 01:44:44
6. Lasse Lührs GER 01:44:47
7. Gabriel Allgayer GER 01:45:19
8. Antonio Serrat Seoane ESP 01:45:32
9. Hayden Wilde NZL 01:45:38
10. Alex Yee GBR 01:45:41
Results: U23 Women
1. Taylor Knibb USA 01:53:47
2. Cassandre Beaugrand FRA 01:55:22
3. Angelica Olmo ITA 01:56:39
4. Nicole Van Der Kaay NZL 01:57:02
5. Erika Ackerlund USA 01:57:18
6. Sandra Dodet FRA 01:57:32
7. Jaz Hedgeland AUS 01:57:39
8. Yuliya Golofeeva RUS 01:57:51
9. Sophie Linn AUS 01:58:01
10. Nina Eim GER 01:58:25
Results: Junior Men
1. Csongor Lehmann HUN 00:52:49
2. Paul Georgenthum FRA 00:53:12
3. Philipp Wiewald GER 00:53:14
4. Boris Pierre FRA 00:53:20
5. Lorcan Redmond AUS 00:53:22
6. Oscar Coggins HKG 00:53:37
7. Vetle Bergsvik Thorn NOR 00:53:39
8. Pavlos Antoniades CAN 00:53:40
9. Vasco Vilaca POR 00:53:50
10. Saxon Morgan NZL 00:53:54
Results: Junior Women
1. Cecilia Sayuri Ramirez Alavez MEX 00:59:11
2. Erin Wallace GBR 00:59:23
3. Kate Waugh GBR 00:59:34
4. Pauline Landron FRA 00:59:46
5. Romy Wolstencroft AUS 00:59:51
6. Magdalena Früh AUT 01:00:03
7. Jessica Fullagar FRA 01:00:08
8. Desirae Ridenour CAN 01:00:10
9. Quinty Schoens NED 01:00:12
10. Celia Merle FRA 01:00:16