There were four returning gold medallists from the 2011 championship with Hilary Ross (55-59) and Elspeth Knott (60-64) both successfully retaining their titles.

 

The athletes view from Nancy

 

Elspeth Knott added a sixth gold medal to her collection from world and European duathlon championships. The 62-year-old, who lives near Manningtree, said: "I was more nervous than I had been. I knew there were younger people coming into the age-group and I wasn't sure where I was on the run. I knew Pauline [Warner] was ahead of me but I managed to catch her on the bike. I just had to keep myself ahead."

 

Elspeth added: “The atmosphere is fantastic. There are a lot of people about. The marshals were cheering, they were excellent."

 

Mum-of-three, Pauline Warner (60-64) took home a silver medal behind Elspeth at her first ITU Duathlon World Championships. The semi-retired local government worker, said: "I come from Devon where it's really hilly, so a flat course was a really nice surprise. It's great to have won a medal. I came with no expectations at all so it's an added bonus."

 

Juliette Minter from Olney in Buckinghamshire, who won the 40-44 age-group, commented after the race: "I really enjoyed it. There was really good support, there were a lot of British people cheering on the course which really lifted you every time you went past them, it was fantastic."

 

Becky Glover from London took gold in the 25-29 age category. She said she was "really, really pleased". "I was hoping to get a medal," she said. "I got bronze last year so it's really nice to step up."

 

Becky said being part of the GE Great Britain Age-Group Team was "brilliant fun". "It's a great team with so much support," she added. 

 

Gillian Palmer from Edinburgh, who claimed silver in the 30-34 age-group, said it was a ‘tough’ race. 

 

"I came off the 10k feeling pretty whacked and the German girl really pushed me on the bike. On the last run, I was catching her and I took it to the end," she said. "I'm reasonably pleased but not satisfied."

 

Palmer, who came into the race as reigning champion, said the organisation was "brilliant". She added: "I really liked the course. The bike course was twisty, I loved it."

 

Esther Evans, 38, who took bronze in the 35-39 age-group, said: "I didn't think I was going to get it. It was hard work. The bike was interesting, a bit technical. All in all, it was good fun."

 

Suzie Richards, who came seventh in Spain last year and took silver in the 25-29 age group this year, credited her improvement to Yorkshire hills after moving from London to Leeds. She said: "Great Britain have just dominated it, it's really brilliant. 

 

"It's amazing to be part of the team and so inspiring seeing the 80-year-olds." 

 

In the men's race, gold medal winner, Peter Wheddon, (55-59) added:“Obviously I’m really pleased to have won gold but I had to work for it on a technical course. I won it really in T1 and on the bike. It was a fast race from the start. A lead group of three formed led by a German athlete. I let them go and decided to stay in the chase group as I thought that the pace was too fast. I entered T1 in fourth or fifth place. I had a brilliant transition and managed to pull back 30 seconds on the leaders. I came out on the bike in second just a few seconds down on an American athlete.

 

"I had the fastest bike of the day, which I’m really pleased about, and I caught and passed him to take the lead. As a result of the twisting nature of the course, I was able to see my chasers, especially on the second run, but I kept my focus and a strong pace to take the gold. It was a hard race but it’s great representing GB and to be age group world champion."

 

Silver medallist, Lewis Winfield-Young (20-24) said: “Liam Roberts (GB) flew on the first run and got a big gap on the rest of us. Ross MacDonlad (GB) and an athlete from Poland were just ahead of the group I was in. Just behind us were three or four others and the rest of the field were not far back. In fact, it was quite close as we came to T1. Everyone knew it was important to have a good T1 and we all came out with the positions not really changed. 

 

“I had a strong bike and caught Liam and Ross to take the lead ahead of Liam. He had a better T2 than me, and a strong 5km run to win. Obviously, I would have liked to have won and a bit disappointed that I didn’t take my chance, but I’m really pleased with my medal and that the GB team has done well.”

 

 

 

18-19 Male AG : Results