Brad Kahlefeldt and Radka Vodickova win Challenge Batemans Bay

The inaugural Challenge Batemans Bay turned it on for the competitors and big professional fields racing today. The stunning sunrise over the water set the scene for what was to be one of the most picturesque races on the Challenge Calendar.

The mens race set the pace for the day with a large group heading in to T1 and lead out on to the bike by Clayton Fettell with Joshua Amberger, Pete Jacobs, Michael Fox, Brad Kahlefeldt, Sam Douglas, Sam Appleton in amongst the pack. On to the bike and Amberger set the early pace with until the initial chase pack of Jacobs, Kahelfeldt, Fettell and Appleton caught Amberger at the first turn around. From then on it was these five who lead the race until the late stage of the bike when Amberger decided that he would need a gap heading on to the run with the calibre of runners he was riding with.

Kahlefledt had stepped up a gear for this race. “I had one of the best rides I have ever had in non-drafting after what I felt was a great swim I managed to hang on to some of the best riders in the game. Some recent changes to my bike setup after Geelong has seen me wipe around 5mins off my time over this distance. It was exciting to be here to race my first Challenge event and to have my family here to watch was great.”

By the time Amberger headed out of T2 he had established a lead of around 1:30 and was followed by Fettell, Jacobs, Appleton and Kahlefedlt.

Kahlefledt quickly put the pressure on and ut a gap between himself and Jacobs with Appleton in 4th and Fettell in 5th. By the time Kahlefeldt was on his way back to transition after the first turn around on the 3 lap out and back run he had overtaken Amberger and was intent on putting as much time between himself and the field as possible. Half way through the run and Amberger looked like he was struggling but this changed within a few kms when Amberger found his second wind and was springing along like he was doing a 5km interval.

Behind the front two Jacobs was labouring on the run and Appleton was slowly eating erasing the deficit to Jacobs. With 2.5kms to go Appleton realised he was going to pass Jacobs and take over third spot.

Just behind the front action a huge pack of around 15 male pros had formed on the bike after initially seeing 2 packs of similar sizes riding about 2min apart. Once this pack formed the pace slowed down slightly as the guys made sure they were not going to get caught in draft zones.

Once the chase pack hit the run course they soon spreadout. One of the danger men on the run was David Mainwaring. He succumbed to a niggling knee injury and ended up limping back to the transition.

John Polson and Callum Millward kept the supporters guessing with Millward doning a ‘John Polson’ race suit and both ran together for most of the race. Michael Fox, Sam Douglas, Courtney Ogden, Matty White all raced hard for the minor placings in the prize pool.

The Women’s Race

Everntual winner Radka Vodickova established a commanding lead out of the water motivated by ‘A fear of sharks. I swam hard to try to catch the guys so that I was not swimming along. I didn’t and ended up on my own for the whole swim.’ Vodickova had a five minute lead after the swim and hit the bike course with the belief that she could go on with it. Behind her though were two determined women. New turned pro, Jessica Fleming and one of the most experienced women on the circuit Belinda Granger set about reeling her in. By the time they passed the northern second lap turn for the second time they had caught Vodickova.

Fleming and Granger (sometime training partners) had reduced Vodickova’s lead to nothing and it was Flemming who lead out of T2 on to the run.

Within a few kms Vodickova had established her dominance on the run course and was now leading the race with Fleming in second and Granger in third.

For Fleming, a mother of two pre-teen boys, this race was move up the ranks. After dominating in the age group ranks for years she felt that the stigma of being seen as an age grouper that completely dominates her age group was too much and yielded to the pressure and took up a pro license. The reluctant pro still trains like an age grouper due to her other duties such as coaching, mother to two growing boys and all of life’s other pressures.

Belinda Granger showed her strength on the bike today with a powerhouse ride. Whilst Vodickova swum and ran her way to victory it showed that she still has a lot of untapped potential.

For Vodickova her move to long course a couple of years ago has been well worth it. The former cross country skier and ITU triathlete since 2003 is enjoying this life. Often basing herself in Asia Vodickova races a lot around the Asia Pacific region.