It was an all-American victory at the inaugural Challenge San Gil in Queretaro, Mexico with Rodolphe Van Berg taking a point to point win while Lauren Goss had more of a battle on her hands to take top honours.
After a rainy night and a cold morning in San Gil, Queretaro, athletes were met with a cool day and great conditions for the race.
In the 1.9 km swim, Van Berg took an early lead with a 24:38 swim, taking the lead ahead of a second group pack that was about 30 meters back.
In the chase pack, five Mexican athletes were following Van Berg, Mauricio Mendez, Vinicio Ibarra, Esteban Rosas, Jorge Luis Fuentes and Gil Rivera. They started one minute behind the lead, but in a few minutes Nathan Killam (USA) and Justin Metzler (USA) rode strong on the challenging San Gil bike course.
Van Berg kept a steady and powerful pace that helped him grow his lead to five minutes, and headed to the Residential Area of San Gil with a new course record of 2:14:49.
The first of the two loops of the run were controlled by Van Berg with a solid pace, and his lead and pace continued until the final six kilometres. The cold temperature suddenly changed to a sunny day and as the temperature rose, so Van Berg's pace slowed and Maurico Mendez (MEX) started eating into his lead. But, in the end, Van Berg's record bike split was enough to secure him the champion's spot at the first edition of Challenge San Gil.
Mendez took second place early on the run, with the second fastest split of the day. A 1:16:39 half marathon helped him pass Jorge Luis Fuentes in kilometer 7 and hold his pace to obtain a second place finish overall.
Nathan Killam (CAN) set a strong pace on the bike and the run, that helped him get the last spot on the podium, passing Vinicio Ibarra and Esteban Rosas on the second loop of the half marathon.
 Rodolphe Von Berg (USA) celebrates his win at the inaugural Challenge San Gil, Mexico.(Photo: Marcos Ferro Productions; click to enlarge) |
The Women's race had another great duel Goss and Mexican Cecilia Perez (two times San Gil 113K winner) who set the pace on the swim, swimming shoulder to shoulder and exiting the water in 26:06 and 26:08 respectively. Both athletes battled the first part of the bike course, until Goss received a penalty drafting call and was passed by Perez, holding the lead until the last climb to Amealco. On the descent, Goss repassed Perez and arrived at T2 with a 1:20 lead.
On the second loop, at kilometer 16, Perez once again caught Goss, but after a few kilometers of a second shoulder-to-shoulder battle, Lauren continued with a powerful pace that gave her a final lead of over three minutes.
Kathy Rakel (USA) rounded out the female podium some 22 minutes down on Perez.
 Lauren Goss (USA) takes the inaugural win at Challenge San Gil.(Photo: Marcos Ferro Productions; click to enlarge) |
Full Challenge San Gil results available here: http://www.racetecresults.com/Results.aspx?CId=16504&RId=89
