Yvonne van Vlerken (Tri Team Lustenau/Endurance Team Austria) slaps short distance Worldcup-athletes Jodie Swallow/UK, Helle Frederiksen/DEN and Jessica Harrison/FRA-UK at Int. Duathlon La Santa on Lanzarote/ESP.

Ahead of the race the world-cup athletes got a lot, the long-course nearly no chances for the victory. Helle Frederiksen and Jessica Harrison, recently second- and third-placed at the ITU world-cup race in Huatulco/Mex, also ITU world champion Jodie Swallow and not Yvonne van Vlerken were traded as favorites for the top-spot.
It was then even more painful that van Vlerken tought the shortcourse-specialists a lesson in running and biking.

In the first run over 5 km Swallow, Harrison, Frederiksen, Dutchwoman Mariska Kramer and Yvonne van Vlerken kept permanently an eye on each other. After two blistering 2,5k-laps in 17:20min. the five girls went out on the bike together.

Already on the first hill Jodie Swallow and Mariska Kramer broke off the pack. On the flat passage to the surfer's paradise Famara Yvonne van Vlerken attacked and pulled away of both world-cup starters. Until four kilometres before T2 she held them on distance, but saw a group behind her. She dropped back to Jessica Harrison and Helle Frederiksen who were in companion of some men. On the downhill section to La Santa van Vlerken attacked again successfully and put 20sec. on the chasing girls. She defended this gap on the second run, only gave 3 seconds away to Frederiksen who took 2nd, while Harrison had to settle for 3rd.

With 2005, '06 and '08 Yvonne van Vlerken wins her fourth title at the generally very competitive classic on Lanzarote.

Yvonne quote: „The race was mentally pretty tough, but at the same time there was the chance to test myself on a very high level. I am very confident with my biking and running, which gives me some good signs for the first major  event this year, Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.“

Damien Derobert/FRAU won the men´s race.

Top 3 Female:
1. Yvonne van Vlerken/NL 1:02:17 h
2. Helle Frederiksen/DEN 1:02:28 h
3. Jessica Harrison/FRAU 1:02:57 h