The 2026 World Triathlon Cup Lanzarote delivered a cinematic opening to the season, defined by sophisticated tactical racing on the island’s rugged coast. Spain’s David Cantero Del Campo secured another World Cup victory, continuing the winning streak he built at the end of the 2025 season, stopping the clock at 54:45 to narrowly defeat Germany’s Tim Hellwig (+0:03) and Morocco’s Jawad Abdelmoula (+0:16). Cantero delivered a run segment for the ages, recording the fastest split of the day despite having to stop for 10 seconds to serve a penalty.
The race dynamics were established early during the 750m swim at Playa de las Cucharas, led by Dorian Coninx (FRA) in 09:00 and followed closely by a group including Max Stapley (GBR), Igor Dupuis (FRA), and Kevin Tarek Viñuela (ESP). However, the narrative shifted drastically in the first transition when Cantero was given a 10-second penalty for a mount-line violation.
Emerging from the water in 09:07, Cantero joined a dense lead pack on the 20km bike course. As a large group, they navigated the windy uphill sections on each lap in a bike segment characterised by a high level of control, orchestrated largely by Dorian Coninx, Max Stapley, and Tim Hellwig. Returning to the blue carpet with his signature authority after time away, Coninx, the 2023 World Champion, ensured the group remained together during the bike leg, neutralising several breakaway attempts and setting the stage for a pure running showdown.
The 5km run segment provided a compelling case study in race management. Knowing he had a 10-second deficit to erase, Cantero surged immediately to build a buffer. On the advice of his coach, he chose to serve the penalty at the end of the first 2.5km lap of the run. This manoeuvre handed the lead to Tim Hellwig, who looked exceptionally sharp in his first major appearance following a 2025 season plagued by injuries.
Hellwig held a slim advantage heading into the final lap, but Cantero utilised his impressive leg speed, refined during his dominant finish to the 2025 season, to gradually close the gap, eventually clocking a 14:16 run split.
In the final kilometre, the battle became a head-to-head sprint. While Hellwig’s return to form was impressive, Cantero’s finishing kick proved insurmountable in the closing metres, and he outsprinted the German on the blue carpet with the finish tape in sight, to the delight of the local spectators.
Behind them, Jawad Abdelmoula (MAR) signalled a major return to elite fitness. After two years of struggling to find his trademark race pace and form, the Moroccan clocked a blistering 14:31 run split to slice through the field and claim bronze.
Dorian Coninx crossed the finish line in fourth place, followed by his teammate Nathan Grayel, Max Stapley (GBR), Izan Edo (ESP), and Roberto Sánchez Mantecón (ESP), rounding out the top eight.
For Cantero, the victory confirms his trajectory towards the sport’s absolute elite: “I had to stay calm and trust my legs to make up those ten seconds. Winning here, at home, against athletes like Tim and Dorian, is the perfect start to 2026,” he said.