Courtesy: ITU

Six different national flags were raised in victory at the medal ceremony for the ITU World Cup Triathlon, Tiszaujvaros, just one of the 'firsts' for the circuit this year.

It was the first time in the history of ITU World Cup racing that the medals have been so widely shared. Since triathlon made its debut at the Olympic Games in 2000, racing has become closer, faster and far less predictable than in previous years and the result has been more success for emerging national teams.

There were many other 'firsts' today, including some of the fastest split times of the season on the flat and flowing course. The racing was the hottest of the season, as the temperature reached a maximum of 36 degrees; a small concern for the 15,000 most passionate spectators in triathlon witnessed the close and exciting racing.

The women dived into the 25.8-degree water at 12.30pm. Three weeks ago Loretta Harrop (AUS) lost her world number one ranking and today in the ITU World Cup Triathlon, Tiszaujvaros, Harrop threw everything at her chance of pegging back her top spot.

Harrop would have created an even bigger lead from the 1500m swim if she had not misjudged her navigation on the first of the two-lap swim. Her sprint through transition was reminiscent of her previous races on this course, and an indication of Harrop's intentions of a solo race, start to finish. The strategy has been the key to her success before and Harrop was chasing a fourth consecutive victory at this popular leg of the ITU World Cup.

At transition one, the greatest question was, where is World Champion Siri Lindley (USA)? Her consistent swim leg has given Lindley the advantage of Harrop's feet in recent races, however today the crowd waited for 1.16min before the recently crowned World Number One arrived.

"Sometimes it is a matter of luck," said Lindley after the race. "If you get caught up behind athletes, that can slow you down. It wasn't until the second lap of the swim that I was able to find clear water and build up my speed."

Swimming with Lindley was Wieke Hoogzaad (NED), the recent bronze medallist in ITU World Cup Corner Brook, Anje Dittmer (GER) in her first ITU World Cup of the season following a stress fracture of her toe, previous Tiszaujvaros podium finisher, Tracy Hargreaves - and thirteen others.

The early lead was enough to inspire Harrop to surge ahead. During the 6km stretch from Lake Tisza to the Tiszaujvaros town centre, where the athletes would race a twisty six lap criterium style 40km bike Harrop gained twenty seconds.

Behind a large chase pack formed as the formidable Christiane Pilz (GER) took control to chase Harrop. However the group didn't seem to be particularly organised in their pursuit and Harrop began to build a significant gap. By transition two she had powered to a 2.14min lead in her characteristic solo effort.

With the speed of Lindley, Hoogzaad and Hargreaves behind, it soon became apparent that Harrop's efforts might be overwhelmed. Approaching the final of four laps of the 10 kilometre run, Lindley passed Harrop, with Hoogzaad around ten seconds later. The surprise of the day came from Dittmer, who ran brilliantly to claim the final podium position. Harrop was swallowed up by the relative fresh legs of the field, placing 10th.

"Loretta swam and rode so well today and I realised that if she was able to gain one and a half minutes in the first part of the race, then she would easily have a lead of more than two minutes," said Lindley. "I didn't feel that flash today and I didn't have the strength on the bike to try to break away. My plan was just to get off the bike and hammer out the first lap to get as much of a gap on Wieke. I felt like that was the hardest race in a long time."

When the men hit the water at 4.15pm, the tight swimming was also a feature of the first discipline of the race. As expected the French duo of Stephan Bignet and Stephane Poulat exited the water first, however Courtney Atkinson (AUS) trailed them in his first race of the ITU World Cup season, Richard Stannard (GBR), and Hungarian hometown favourites, Szabolcs Agoston and Gabor Buru.

There was no significant gap, as the entire field seemed to be joined in one line. Closer to the lead of that line was pre race favourite Martin Krnavek (CZE) in seventh and further adrift were notable runners Dimitry Gaag (KZE) in 23rd and Bevan Docherty in 26th.

Krnavek soon joined a leading pack of thirteen men, but their pace was erratic. While the group sometimes co-ordinated well to extend their lead and would then lose momentum, to be swallowed up by a large group with just five kilometres remaining on the bike. The efforts of Docherty and Australians Bryce Quirk and Levi Maxwell on the bike paid off as the second group were suddenly in contention.

The first two kilometres off the bike were lightning fast, as Gaag, Krnavek and Docherty jostled for the lead. Poulat stayed in touch, around 10 metres behind the group.

It was a tactic of 'survival' that finally helped Krnavek to pull away, in only the final kilometre of the race. Gaag held on for second place, and the patient Poulat overpowered Docherty to pick up third.

"The pace for the first lap was so fast," said Krnavek. "Then we realised how hot it was and the pace slowed quite a lot. I was just holding on, trying to keep my pace and rhythm. It was a very tough run and it was only in the last kilometre that I knew that I could win."

In another 'first' the six medallists danced on the dais for the adoring crowd, even providing an encore. However after the tough racing it was a little difficult for weary legs to groove and perhaps it is lucky that they are great triathletes, as the dancing was no Broadway performance! The ninth round of the ITU World Cup is set for Lausanne, Switzerland next weekend.