Mario Mola overcomes poor swim and time penalty to repeat as ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi champion

Britons Jodie Stimpson and Helen Jenkins finished on the podium for the women's event after a pile-up crash on the bikes pushed several Olympic medallists out of contention, writes Amith Passela.

Mario Mola of Spain in action during the Elite Men's 2016 ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi on March 5, 2016 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

ABU DHABI // Mario Mola overcame a slow swim-stage and a 15-second time penalty to retain the men’s elite crown in the Abu Dhabi leg of the ITU World Triathlon on Saturday.

However, the women’s event produced a completely new podium finish following a crash on the bikes that took out several of the main contenders.

Britons Jodie Stimpson and Helen Jenkins bagged the gold and bronze, and the Australian Ashleigh Gentle took the silver,

Mola won last year’s race in Abu Dhabi over the sprint distance and repeated that performance over the Olympic distance at the capital’s Corniche Breakwater.

“When things go well you forget about the pain,” said the Spaniard after completing the grueling 1.5-kilometre swim, 40km bike and 10km run in 1 hour 46.39 minutes, 15 seconds ahead of the second-placed Richard Murray of South Africa.

Photo galleries:

Mola came out of the swim towards the end of the 67-strong field and then picked up a penalty for an equipment infringement.

“I didn’t swim great, but I was able to get to the front on the bike and then when they called me for the penalty, I imagined it was going to be a bad day, but when I had those 10, 15 seconds, I thought, that is the time to stop and get back into the pack again,” he said.

“I am happy how things went today although I have many things to improve still. The swim wasn’t great. I think there is room to improve on the bike and in the run might as well. I will keep working and try to do things as I have been doing and give my best.”

After Mola took his turn in the penalty box, Murray, Joao Silva of Portugal, and Spaniard Fernando Alarza moved ahead of him, but only for a short distance, as the champion soon reclaimed the lead.

Mola was in command from there onwards. Alarza was the first to drop out of the group of four, Silva was next, but Murray stayed on strongly until the end to take the silver.

“It’s the first race of the season and I’m really very happy with my form,” said Murray.

“It was a bit hotter than I thought but when the race is going on I give everything. It is a long season and I hope I get stronger and stronger as the season progresses.

“It was tough but I held it together to come out with this result. My focus is on the Olympics and the world series is a stepping stone.”

For Silva it was his first podium finish. He said: “I’m glad I had a good start to the season. I want to keep doing better and better, if I stay injury-free.

“For all the athletes here today and this year is more about the Olympics than anything else. They will be lying if they say something different.”

In the women’s event, Nicola Spirig, the London Olympic gold medallist, and Gentle worked solidly together to push the second group of cyclists forward. They did not let the pace slow and were able to close the gap between them and the leading group to just 15 seconds with three laps to go.

However, a crash caused a pile-up a few metres from the transition zone, forcing some cyclists to lose their medal contention.

Spirig and Erin Densham, the London Olympic bronze medalist, and Americans Sarah True and Katie Zaveres, last year’s runner up in Abu Dhabi, were among them. ​

Claiming her first victory since 2014, Stimpson has revived her hopes of claiming a spot for 2016 Rio.

“This winter I could not say that it could have gone any better. My training group has been highly motivated because none of us have made our Olympic spots yet,” she said.

“Me and Helen Jenkins, we are great rivals, she is just a fantastic athlete and I have so much respect for her.

“As soon as I crossed the line I went to her and thought we could not make it any harder for them really, but we are both in the same boat and it will be whoever has the best race in Gold Coast [next leg on April 10].”

ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi top five results

Men’s Elite

1 Mario Mola (ESP) 1.46.39

2 Richard Murray (RSA) 1.46.54

3 Joao Silva (POR) 1.47.08

4 Fernando Alarza (ESP) 1.47.17

5 Crisanto Grajales (MEX) 1.47.27

Women’s Elite

1 Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 1.56.10

2 Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) 1.56.19

3 Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1.56.26

4 Flora Duffy (BER) 1.56.44

5 Renee Tomlin (USA) 1.57.02

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport