03 Apr UIPM 2016 World Cup #3 – Rome salutes home heroes in Mixed Relay
Hosts Italy savoured the perfect climax to the third round of the 2016 UIPM World Cup as Lavinia Bonessio and Lorenzo Michele claimed gold in the Mixed Relay.
It was a second Mixed Relay gold in three World Cup events for Italy and Bonessio after she topped the podium alongside Auro Franceschini at World Cup #1 in Cairo.
Today, Bonessio and Michele performed strongly throughout and saved the best for last: a blistering performance in the Combined Event that led them to first place ahead of silver medal-winning brother and sister Lenka Bilkova & Martin Bilko (Czech Republic) and bronze medallists Mayan Oliver & Alvaro Sandoval (Mexico).
As the sun set on a successful World Cup event in the ancient Olympic city of Rome, Bonessio (ITA) said: “I am very happy with these results. I won in Cairo and in this competition, I competed with a young man and it was an exceptional result.
“This morning I was sick but it was okay because my preparation was better in this event than in the individual.”
Bilkova (CZE) said after receiving her medal: “I have a wonderful feeling. It was a bit surprising for me and for my brother but it was a very good day today.
“I’m very glad to be able to compete with him. Fencing was good for us because we had not competed in a while because he took a break and I was not very well.
“It’s really great to be here because in Rome there is such nice weather; it’s very sunny. It’s been a good day but for us, the best was the riding. We had a very good horse.”
Bonessio/Michele (ITA) performed well throughout the day and finished 3rd of 9 participating nations in both Swimming and Riding, which put them in a strong position going into the Combined Event.
Bilkova/Bilko (CZE) dominated for large periods, leading at the first and third Shooting ranges and they looked strong going into the final stages, but the Italians demonstrated greater Running stamina and finished strongly to move confidently to the finish line.
In Swimming, Bilkova/Bilko (CZE) timed 2:01.61 for a share of 3rd place. Elena Potapenko & Anton Kuznetsov (Kazakhstan) were easily the fastest with 1:57.47, ahead of Ronja Doring & Matthias Sandten (Germany) and the Czechs.
Theodore Lauzen & Samantha Achterberg (USA) kept the pressure on the leading pack with a strong performance in Riding, but they never quite moved into medal contention and had to settle for 4th.
Sandoval/Oliver (MEX) came from behind with an exceptional Run/Shoot performance to beat their North American neighbours to bronze. They had begun the Combined Event with a 74-second handicap against the leading Bilkova/Bilko (CZE).
As for Bonessio/Michele (ITA), they started 14 seconds behind the leaders but overcame the handicap with great composure to the delight of the Italian spectators and organisers.
Dr Klaus Schormann, President of UIPM, said: “The Mixed Relay, as we all know, is so important for us. That’s why we’re bidding for it to be included in the Olympic Games.
“Today we had nine nations compete here at the World Cup and the results see Italy on the winning podium but to see how the Mexican team came from behind to catch up, it’s clear how much the athletes like this competition and enjoy it.
“They act like a team and there really is a team spirit so I hope more nations in the future will be competing when the Olympic season is over.
“This is a very special competition with a great team spirit so I am happy that we had such an exciting finish today.”
The 2016 UIPM World Cup resumes in Kecskemet, Hungary (April 14-18) before culminating with the World Cup Final in Sarasota-Bradenton, USA (May 6-8).
Stay tuned to the main UIPM site pentathlon.org for news and visit our new dedicated TV site uipmtv.org for highlights and live coverage of future events.
2016 UIPM World Cup #3, Rome
Mixed-Relay Final Standings
1 MICHELE Lorenzo, BONESSIO Lavinia ITA 1435
2 BILKO Martin, BILKOVA Lenka CZE 1432
3 SANDOVAL Alvaro, OLIVER Mayan MEX 1430
4 LAUZEN Theodore, ACHTERBERG Samantha USA 1425
5 KUZNETSOV Anton, POTAPENKO Elena KAZ 1412
6 ZAPATA Ayelen, ZAPATA Emanuel ARG 1356
7 EKiN Canberk Hulusi, AKSIN Ipek TUR 1335
8 SANDTEN Matthias, DORING Ronja GER 1109
9 KUZNETSOV Nikita, Alina MEREMIANINA KGZ 1043
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