The golden hour in Valencia has a special meaning for David Cantero del Campo. The Spanish rising star made it clear that racing at home gives you “about a 10% of extra power” to claim the 2024 World Triathlon Cup Valencia in front of the home crowd that included his parents, friends and family. Second on the day was Australia’s Callum McClusky, while another Spaniard, Sergio Baxter Cabrera, rounded a perfect day for the Spanish team claiming the last spot of the podium.
The course in Valencia, flat, fast and technical looked like homemade for the star of the large Spanish team deployed in the Mediterranean city for the World Cup, David Cantero. The young rising star, only 22 years of age and born and raised in Valencia, had proven before that he is one of the fastest men on the circuit when it all comes down to a run, but the question of the day was if he would be able to repeat his outstanding victory on the same course just one year ago.
But one year can be a really long time, especially if the summer was one with a few set backs for the young Spaniard, who had to cope with a few injuries after his 4th place earlier this season in Hong Kong and a 5th in Samarkand. But missing the Olympics meant a long block of training for Cantero, and by the results of the race in Valencia, it did pay off.
The race started with a fast non wetsuit swim that was led by Darr Smith (USA) and Nicola Azzano (ITA), and both of them led a small group of 8 athletes that tried to break away in the first meters of the bike segment. The group of nine had newcomers on the circuit and getting organised was not easy, and soon the 15 seconds difference faded away, as the chase group led by Antonio Serrat Seoane, Sergio Baxter Cabrera, David Cantero and Gabor Faldum got the chasers organised.
Half way through the 20km bike, the leaders were caught by the chasers and a massive train, with over thirty athletes, just tried to save some legs during the remaining two laps of the flat bike course, but also trying to stay out of trouble by keeping positions in front of the group.
The first one to touch the ground in the second transition was Cantero, displaying a super fast dismount and transition, enough to give him a few seconds of a lead in the first meters of the run, along with Australia’s Callum McClusky, the only one able to follow the speedy Spaniard.
McClusky, another great runner, stayed right at the heels of Cantero during the first lap of the run, while behind them three other Spaniards -Serrat, Baxter and Genis Grau- along with Hungary’s Gabor Faldom followed their feet, knowing that they would have to fight for the remaining spot on the podium.
But Cantero was not willing to give anyone a chance and didn’t want to leave the glory for the last sprint. With almost two kilometers to go, the Spaniard pushed and this time, McClusky was not able to follow him, while the crowds went wild. Cheering Cantero’s name, the Spaniard flew back to the Marina to step on the blue carpet not looking back, ready to enjoy the last meters by himself, and crossed the finish line all smiles, with time to bow in respect for the crowds that helped him to get the victory in Valencia, second in a row for him. “This race couldn’t have been any better. I had my family and friends here supporting me and they gave me all the strengh I needed today to be able to win here”, he said. “This season has not been easy for me, but this win here gives me the confidence to end the season with a high. Today was a really tactic race but it did play out, I am really happy”, he explained.
Second on the day was McClusky, on his second podium on a World Cup after his win in Napier, the first World Cup of the season. “David Cantero pushed me all day today, it was a really good showdown and I can only congratulate him”, he said. “The start of the season was really good for me but I was not able to match that performance afterwards so I am really happy to be back in good form now”.
The sprint for bronze between Serrat and Baxter ended up with the younger, Baxter, claiming the remaining spot of the podium, a third place that meant the world for him, after a year dealing with multiple injuries and being sick in bed the last four days. “It feels great to be back on the podium, last time was quite a while ago, surely not this year. I haven’t been able to train properly for a while, so really happy to be back on the podium, and even more here on home soil”. “I tried to leave Serrat behind on the second lap but I couldn’t. We both knew that one will go home without a medal and I didn’t want to be that one, so I found a last push and made it”, he said.
Serrat ended up with the bittersweet chocolate medal, fourth place, while Arnaud Mengal (BEL) closed the top five with a great run split, 14:30. The 6th place was for Azzano, with Reese Vannerson (USA), Liam Donnelly (CAN), Grau and Faldum rounding the top ten, a mix of new comers to the circuit with some of the most experienced athletes.