Crash fright for Games hope Ashleigh Gentle, Natalie Van Coevorden on podium
ASHLEIGH Gentle has suffered a major fright on treacherous roads ahead of her bid to win Commonwealth Games triathlon gold.
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ASHLEIGH Gentle has suffered a major fright on treacherous roads ahead of her bid to win Commonwealth Games triathlon gold.
Gentle, Australia’s favourite for a home town win on the Gold Coast, crashed in her opening international race of the year in Abu Dhabi on the weekend.
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Rain caused pain for many in the women’s field with both Gentle and Australian teammate Gillian Backhouse crashing.
Feeling thankful that I went home with just these grazes and an ice pack. Thinking of those who are a lot worse!! Ran to 13th and disappointed. Well done to this years #wtsabudhabi podium 😊 pic.twitter.com/fysefMS8YQ
— Ashleigh Gentle (@AshleighGentle) March 2, 2018
Both managed to remount their bike but Gentle finished way off the podium in 13th place, one minute and 24 seconds off the pace.
Gentle said she was lucky to have escaped more serious injury so close to the Commonwealth Games triathlon.
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“Feeling thankful that I went home with just these grazes and an ice pack. Thinking of those who are a lot worse,’’ Gentle said on social media of the carnage which also claimed Bermudan world champion Flora Duffy.
There was better news for Natalie Van Coevorden who raced onto the podium in the world series for the first time after a rival went the wrong way in the home run.
Van Coevorden ended up with a third place in the sprint race won by Rachel Klamer of the Netherlands with Great Britain’s Jessica Learmonth second.
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The highest placed Australian in the men’s race was Tasmanian Jake Birtwhistle, who is also heading to the games.
Birtwhistle, Gentle and Charlotte McShane were automatic selection in the six-strong team for the games with discretionary selections going to Luke Willian, Matt Hauser and Gillian Backhouse.