Dorian Coninx was crowned the King of Quiberon on Saturday morning, after coming out on top of a mighty sprint finish against Series leader Vasco Vilaça. The crowd roared the 2023 World Champion home as Vilaça stumbled at the final turn, leaving just enough daylight for the Frenchman to smash through and take the tape. Silver follows two golds for Vilaça as he builds an outstanding Championship Series campaign, teammate Ricardo Batista with a second successive bronze. 

“This was perfect for me, at home, I couldn’t have asked for more' said Coninx. 'I knew Vasco was going to go early, but there was also David (Cantero) not too far at the u-turn so I had to push a little bit. The crowd helped a lot, it was massive, good memories of the French Grand Prix here sprinting with Pierre Le Corre. It is two good results in a row now, I chose not to do much travel at the start of the year and it looks like it is paying off.'

Race number one Vilaça took up position on the left of the beach start, Miguel Hidalgo opting for the opposite end, Henry Graf down the middle ahead of what was always going to be a technical start to the 750m swim through the shallow waters.

It was Chile’s Diego Moya showing the rest of the field the way, picking up point duties from Max Stapley (GBR) and the flying Lucas Cambresy (LUX) to lead out onto the beach, up the stone steps and into transition.

Batista and Coninx were some 10 seconds back, followed by Jawad Abdelmoula (MAR) and Vilaça, Hidalgo and Graf nearly 25s back, GB’s Alex Yee just over 30seconds adrift.

The Series leader soon caught on to the front riders as Stapley hollered for some soldiers up front, Tjebbe Kaindl (AUT) and Luke Schofield (AUS) soon stepping up to heave the group of 15 around the first of the four laps of the 20km course.

Graf and Hidalgo were 15 seconds off the front riders at that stage, Yee’s group another 8 seconds back, Coninx taking to the front of the race to fire up the crowds.

The chase packs had merged by the third lap but were stalled at 25 seconds off the front and even after the pace dipped over the closing stages in favour of safety and positioning, Schofield and Kaindl right at the front, Coninx and Miguel Silva being shadowed by Vilaça and Batista.

The chase group including David Cantero, Graf, Yee and Hidalgo were off their bikes 25 seconds back and ready to begin their hunt, but Britain’s Olympic Champion never found his flow and would sadly register a second successive DNF.

At the front of the race, Vilaça was starting to seize control, Nicola Azzano also looking strong alongside Batista and Coninx  in the front four starting to carve daylight to Abdelmoula and Kaindl behind.

At the bell, Cantero had got to within 12 seconds, Hidalgo to 16, Vilaça holding firm at the front as they headed back up the coast for the final 2.5km lap. The Frenchman hit the front with 1km to go but Vilaça made his now-customary move early, hitting the gas but not shaking off Coninx.

At the final dead turn, Vilaça had the inside line but came out wide, stumbled with his final push for home, and Coninx took full advantage, ripping one last dig to the depths and taking the tape by a second, Batista with the bronze.

David Cantero soared his way to fourth ahead of the fastest runner of the day Hidalgo (14:12), Azzano an excellent sixth from Henry Graf, John Reed (USA), Kaindl and Abdelmoula rounding out the top 10.

VASCO VILAÇA
'I haven’t done a sprint distance this year, it's fun, it's another gear to have to go on that run. I tried to stay on the front and push the pace. It was a really hard run and I attacked the last U turn and went into the ditch a little and lost some space to Dorian, but I’m happy for him, winning at home is really special. The good swimmers were a bit split out so I wanted to focus on my race and not care where the others were. (On the finish) I attacked, he attacked back, there was a bit of a fight into the u-turn but I lost one or two seconds and you cant do that to him.'

RICARDO BATISTA
'It’s definitely an amazing feeling back on the podium and once again sharing with Vasco is great, It was tactical on the ride, Im sorry for the guys pulling it, but we pushed it on the run and happily I could finish on the podium places.'

Results available here