Latvian triathlete Gajevskis pulled from WTCS Karlovy Vary stage after crash
Latvian triathlete Gajevskis was withdrawn from the WTCS stage in Karlovy Vary after crashing during the cycling leg, as race leaders had already completed the first running lap. France's Dorian Coninx won the men's elite race.
Latvian triathlete Gajevskis failed to finish the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) stage in Karlovy Vary after crashing during the cycling segment.
In the 1500-metre swim, Gajevskis posted the 40th-best time among 52 competitors. Speaking to the LETA news agency, he said that right after the swim, at the start of the 40-kilometre cycling leg, he crashed on a sharp turn, which dropped him to last position in the race.
Despite the fall, Gajevskis managed to complete the cycling segment. However, just before entering the transition zone to begin the run, race officials stopped him, as the leaders had already finished the first lap of the run. He explained that under competition rules, an athlete is pulled from the race if lapped during cycling, or if another competitor completes the first running lap while they are still on the bike. He added that he effectively completed the full 40 kilometres on the bike, but needed to reach the transition zone slightly faster to stay within the rules.
Winners
In the men's elite race, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Dorian Coninx of France took first place. Paris Olympic champion Alex Yee of Great Britain finished second, while Austria's Tjebbe Kaindl completed the podium. Of the 52 starters, 35 athletes finished the race.
In the women's elite race, Britain's Georgia Taylor-Brown claimed victory, followed by American Taylor Spivey in second and Germany's Lisa Tertsch in third.
This was the eighth of nine WTCS stages this season. The season finale will take place next weekend in Pontevedra, Spain.
