It was the 2023 World Champion Dorian Coninx back to his very best on Sunday afternoon in Czechia, as the Frenchman was part of a crucial bike break and then held off marauding Olympic Champion Alex Yee over a dramatic 10km to win gold, Tjebbe Kaindl with the bronze and a first ever Austrian WTCS podium.

It was Coninx and teammate Leo Bergere - determined, resurgent and very much back from injury with intent – who carved out an early gap from the lead group before first Hungary's Mark Devay and then Kaindl bridged up. That quartet put a huge margin over the field across what proved a treacherous 40km bike in the wet for many who came down.

Kaindl had himself cut clear on the last lap of the seven and then held firm for 2.5km of the run before Coninx hit the front, while Alex Yee was part of a flying few making up huge ground with every passing kilometre.

Yee took 40 seconds out of the 130-second deficit on lap one of the four, but that effort would take a toll later on as Coninx grew into his task up front, holding firm for a second gold of the year and a huge leap up the rankings into fourth. Yee eventually passed Kaindl for his first podium since 2024 as he cranks up his mission for LA28, Kaindl in turn making history for Austria with a hugely gutsy bronze.

McQueen and Crociani drill the swim
The rain continued to fall on Rolava Lake as the men lined up for the two-lap swim, an all-in to the first buoy after just 200m of the 1500m in total that left Miguel Tiago Silva (POR) and Chase McQueen (USA) out front, the likes of Alex Yee and race number one Miguel Hidalgo drifting back.

At the halfway point it was indeed McQueen leading out and back in, Jules Rethoret and Mark Devay also right there, Hidalgo 10seconds back, Yee and Kaindl almost half a minute adrift.

Alessio Crociani (ITA) was first out after lap two into transition with Coninx and Vetle Thorn (NOR), the Frenchman out onto his bike first with Connor Bentley (GBR) also for company, Bergere and Csongor Lehmann 25 seconds back.

Coninx and Rethoret show the way
Crociani lost time in transition as Coninx hit the gas with Rethoret, Devay and McQueen, Tiago Silva crashing out as the pace stepped up in the wet, Yanis Seguin, Bentley and Thorn quickly bridging to the front group on the point-to-point section.

Into the 7-lap city circuit, each one packing a fiendish 20% climb, Thorn fell foul of a dropped chain and broken derailleur, David Cantero (ESP) also crashing out as 15 athletes came together also including the day’s top two of Hidalgo and Ricardo Batista.

Leo Bergere roars back into life
Bergere was quick to go off the front on the climb of lap two, only Coninx able to go too as the remaining 13 looked at each other for a response, but none came. Devay was quick to join them, and there was quickly 10 seconds of daylight as Kaindl then got across to make it a powerful four up front.

Behind, the pace wasn’t matched, only Bitados trying to roll the dice and proceeding to tackle the rest of the bike solo hanging between the two packs, Hidalgo’s group soon 30 seconds off the front, Yee’s group a minute back after three laps.

The second half of the 40km bike saw the leaders extend their lead even further, while Yee’s group closed in on the chasers so that by now they were all collectively out to 2:12 off the front. Bitados was still boldly solo between the two, while Kaindl found another gear to put a precious extra 12 seconds into Coninx, Bergere and Devay.

Coninx holds off Yee as Kaindl hangs tough
Out onto the 4-lap run, Kaindl was able to hold his advantage over Coninx for the first 2.5km as Bergere and Devay dropped back, while Yee managed to put a massive 40 seconds into the Austrian and began to look a real threat.

Over lap two, Coninx hit the front and built into his race, though, and the rate Yee was eating into the lead started to slow, while Tim Hellwig and Ricardo Batista also began to fly.

With 1500m to go, Coninx knew it was in the bag, the gap down to 30 seconds but holding firm as Yee passed Kaindl into second, and that would stay the top three, Batista running into fourth, Hellwig fifth and Devay coming home for a battle-hardy sixth.

A big finish from Canada’s Martin Sobey saw him over in sixth just ahead of Mitch Kolkman (NED), Yanis Seguin (FRA) and John Reed (USA) rounding out the ten, followed by Hidalgo.