Digital magazines from the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the World Triathlon Series
Issue link: http://worldtriathlon.uberflip.com/i/1405112
MEN'S REVIEW RIO 2016 PT4 Germany's Martin Schulz became the first man to win a Paralympic triathlon gold medal when he put together a typically dominant performance in the men's PT4 class. Overcoming a 50-second deficit out of the swim to George Peasgood (GBR), Schulz seized his moment on the bike to move from fourth place into the lead by the third lap, point that he never relinquished all the way to the tape. Behind him the battles bubbled up, the men switching positions continuously throughout the race. Canada's Stefan Daniel, who beat Schulz at the 2015 World Championships, was in fifth as he entered the second transition before finding his groove on the run, passing Peasgood and then Jairo Lopez to win silver, the Spaniard eventually taking bronze ahead of USA's Chris Hammer. PT2 In the men's PT2 sport class, top honours went to Great Britain's Andy Lewis as he surged from behind to take the tape ahead of Italy's Michele Ferrarin and Morocco's Mohamed Lahna. It had been the USA's Mark Barr who made the early headway in the water, however, hitting the transition zone with a lead of over 40 seconds before Aussie Brant Garvey caught and passed Barr as they came out onto the 20km bike. That lead was short-lived as Ferrarin put in a remarkable front-half bike to overcome a 90-second deficit, Lewis also putting the gas down to try and make up ground. The Italian ran through the first of two 2.5km loops in first place, but Lewis was ripping through the run and gaining on Ferrarin, eventually passing and finishing with almost a minute ahead of his nearest rival, while Lahna timed his final surge perfectly to ensure bronze and his place on a historic podium. PT1 Netherlands' Jetze Plat put together the most dominant performance of the day, crushing the competition from start to finish for the gold. Battling through a rough ocean swim, Plat entered the first transition with a large lead of almost a minute, five-time World Champion Bill Chaffey (AUS) second into transition followed by Geert Schipper (NED). Plat never let up on the effort, extending his lead with every lap while the battle for second came down to three men. Schipper and Italian Giovanni Achenza were going well and eventually dropped Chaffey and as the two entered the second transition zone, silver was very much in the balance. From that point on, however, it was Schipper in control. While Plat took the tape by two minutes, it was his compatriot who eased into second and started to put daylight between himself and the Italian to ensure a Dutch one- two and close out the day in style. OLYMPIC HISTORY REVIEW 98 - World Triathlon Media Guide Tokyo 2020 - Paralympics