In a stunning display of athleticism, Henry Graf (GER) clinched victory at the T1 Indoor Triathlon Cup in Liévin, showcasing his dominance throughout the event by winning his heat, semi-final, and final races. The young German triathlete has firmly established himself as a contender this season, having started strong at the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) in Abu Dhabi with an impressive fourth-place finish and leading the German team to victory in the Mixed Relay. Antoine Duval (FRA) finished a remarkable second, marking his first-ever World Cup podium, while Mitch Kolkman (NED) secured third place, also achieving his career-best result. Unfortunately, double Olympic medallist Hayden Wilde had a disappointing day, finishing in fifth place.
Athletes navigated a specially designed 25-meter swimming pool, tackling a course that consisted of 200 meters of swimming, 2.8 kilometers of cycling, and 1 kilometer of running, all in front of an enthusiastic crowd of over 5,000 spectators.
Both Graf and Kolkman devised a clear strategy for the final: to break away from Wilde before the running segment. Their plan paid off, as both athletes dominated their respective semi-finals before entering the pool, aware that Wilde had struggled with the swim in his heat.
As the race unfolded, Wilde's hopes began to fade during the last lengths of the magnificent indoor pool in Liévin. Graf and Kolkman emerged from the water well ahead of him, with one final lap still to swim. The duo, along with Duval, quickly pushed the pace to create a substantial lead.
Despite employing every effort to avoid being lapped, Wilde fought to catch up with the chasing pack but knew a perfect transition and sprint were necessary to close the gap on the leaders. Although he clocked the fastest bike split, Wilde encountered congestion during the second transition, leading to a time loss that ultimately proved insurmountable.
In a thrilling finish, the leading trio vied for the medals. After two laps of tactical maneuvering, Graf seized the decisive moment one lap before the end, crossing the finish line first to claim his first World Cup victory.
Duval's exceptional second-place finish marked his best result after years of competitive racing at the European Cup level, while Kolkman rounded out the podium with an elated smile, celebrating his personal best.
Continuing to impress in the indoor format, Leo Fernandez (FRA) battled fiercely with Wilde for fourth place, with the Kiwi ultimately finishing a disappointing fifth. Jack Willis (GBR) nabbed the sixth position, while Nathan Grayel, the third Frenchman in the final, followed closely behind. Adrien Briffod (SUI), James Edgar (IRL), Genis Grau (ESP), David Lang (LUX), and Shachar Sagiv (ISR) rounded out the final standings.