Italian and British Champions at 2007 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

The 2007 Laguna Phuket Triathlon saw one of the most exciting pro competitions in the history of the race with 2007 Ironman World Champion Chrissie Welllington (GBR), 2007 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) and 2005 Ironman World Champion Faris Al-Sultan (GER) in the field.

The race began at the beachfront of the Laguna Beach Resort with the first wave start taking place at 7am with hundreds of triathletes vying for an early lead in the first leg of the Triathlon. The uniquely designed 1.8km swim crossed two bodies of water, through the Andaman Sea followed by a beachside lagoon. First out of the water was Leonardo Ballerini (ITA) with a swim time of 00:22:15, followed by Mathieu O'Halloran (CAN) in 00:22:36 and Faris Al-Sultan in 00:23:19.

First pro male off the 55k bike course through Phuket's tropical countryside was Massimo Cigana in 1:21:05, ahead of Richie Cunningham who came in second in 1:24:38, and Bryan Rhodes (NZL) in 1:24:45.

Laguna Phuket Triathlon veteran Massimo Cigana from Italy secured the 2007 Laguna Phuket Triathlon champion title and US$ 3000 prize money in 2:31:46, followed by Richie Cunningham (AUS) in 2:33:29 and Faris Al-Sultan in 2:34:30.

The first woman out of the water was Liz Blatchford (GBR) with a swim time of 00:23:38, followed by Valentina Filipetto (ITA) in 00:24:47 and Mirinda Carfrae in 00:25:27.

The pro women race was a closer race with Belinda Granger (AUS) being the first pro woman off the bike course in 1:28:39, followed by Mirinda Carfrae and Liz Blatchford in 1:29:36 and 1:30:57, respectively. 

Liz Blatchford came back in top form from a nine-month hiatus recovering after a spinal cord operation and claimed the Pro Women's championship in a total time of 2:42:24. Mirinda Carfrae placed second in 2:44:28 followed by Laguna Phuket Triathlon veteran Belinda Granger (AUS) in 2:46:47.

The champion of the Herbalife Corporate Challenge Team Relay was The Tequila Gang team, comprising Alastair McAlpine, Matthew McMeekin and Alexander Ward, winning in 2:38:01. Second place went to, Chayanin Chavein, Kittipong Tongkumnung and Saman Gunan of the YHM2 Herbalife team in 2:46:46, followed by The Power of Herbalife team, with Jettaphon Ampanmanee, Sudket Limlamai and Suwat Paiboon, finishing in 2:50:47.

The fastest Thai finisher was Pasayos Yongsakulchai in 3:08:36 while the first Thai woman to finish was Natcha Pianprasobsuk, who also won last year, with a time of 3:24:27.

The 2008 Laguna Phuket Triathlon is scheduled to take place on 7 December 2008.

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