Triathlon made a return to Derry for the first time since 2017, with the City of Derry Triathlon delivering a full day of racing in the city.
The event brought together athletes from across the world for both the Europe Triathlon Cup – City of Derry and Europe Triathlon Junior Cup, alongside a sold-out age-group race, creating a packed programme of racing throughout the weekend.
The Europe Triathlon Junior Cup opened proceedings, with the Junior Women’s and Junior Men’s races providing an exciting showcase of some of the next generation of European and international talent.
In the Junior Men’s race, Caleb Wagener (NZL) took the victory in 53:39, holding off American athletes Aiden Monistere (USA) and Brice Allen (USA), who finished second and third respectively.
The Junior Women’s race saw Korinna Katona (HUN) claim the top step of the podium in 59:57. Great Britain’s Anna Patterson (GBR) finished second, with New Zealand’s Hayley Cornwall (NZL) taking third.
The senior Europe Triathlon Cup – City of Derry races then provided a thrilling conclusion to the day’s elite programme.
López Faraudo takes victory in the Elite Women’s race
The Elite Women’s race saw María López Faraudo (MEX) produce a superb final 5km to take victory in 58:22.
Great Britain’s Katie Rodda (GBR) made an immediate impact, pushing hard from the opening stages and establishing herself at the front of the race. A strong opening run saw Rodda lead into transition, with the leading athletes forming a compact group through the bike and into the final run.
López Faraudo, however, had positioned herself within the chase and produced the fastest run of the field when it mattered most. Her final 5km of 16:35 was enough to move her into the lead and secure the victory by two seconds.
Rodda crossed the line in second, while Germany’s Carlotta Bülck (GER) completed the podium in third, earning the first senior international medal of her career.
Fluri claims Elite Men’s victory in a dramatic duathlon
The Elite Men’s race was affected by challenging weather conditions, with the swim unable to take place safely. The race was therefore converted to a sprint-distance duathlon, beginning with a 2.5km run before a 20km bike and final 5km run.
The change of format did little to reduce the intensity of the racing, with Hamish Reilly (GBR) and teammate Ben Cumberland (GBR) leading the opening run in 7:13. Switzerland’s Maxime Fluri (SUI) remained close behind, with 25 athletes separated by just five seconds at the end of the opening discipline.
The close racing continued on the bike, with the leading group remaining together and setting up a decisive final run. Reilly, Cumberland, Fluri and Etienne Le Roux (FRA) were among those at the front as the athletes headed out onto the final 5km.
Fluri and Reilly eventually pulled clear, with the Swiss athlete producing a decisive late surge to take the victory in 48:44, just two seconds ahead of Reilly. Le Roux completed the podium in third.
Full results from the Elite races can be found here.
Full results from teh Junior races can be found here.