Saturday’s World Triathlon Winter Championships Padola delivered late drama in the Dolomites as Dmitrii Kondrashov (AIN) edged a mighty three-way sprint for the line to land the men’s title on debut, Daria Rogozina (AIN) facing less pressure as she pulled clear to secure her fifth world title. 

In the U23 and Junior races, Alina Liagaeva and Lia Garafutdinova (AIN) took the women’s golds, Jens Kristoffer Dyrdahl (NOR) and Dmitrii Shchegolev (AIN) with the men’s titles.

Elite Men
The men’s race developed into a  gripping shootout, with Dmitrii Kondrashov ultimately edging a tight finish with just four seconds separating the podium. He had opened with a sharp first run, leaving T1 marginally behind Fabian Holbach (GER) but very much in the front group as the race settled. On the opening bike segment he clocked 9:11, keeping contact with Oleg Chestikov and Jens Kristoffer Dyrdahl as the leaders took charge.

The first ski saw Dyrdahl move himself firmly into title contention only for Chestikov to then briefly assume control so that, at halfway, the three leaders remained almost inseparable. Behind them, Ivan Zalavtsev and Italy’s Alessandro Saravalle hovered within half a minute of the front, ensuring that any slip up from the leaders would be punished.

On the second run Kondrashov struck, posting 8:06 – one of the quickest of the day – to nose ahead, though Dyrdahl’s and Chestikov’s fluid transitions saw them close the gap back up with each change of discipline. Chestikov then ensured a grandstand finish thanks to a superb final bike, the final ski all set to decide the medals.

Out of transition for the fifth and final time the three leaders were separated by only a handful of seconds after almost 50 minutes of racing. On the last ski loop, Kondrashov held his nerve superbly to secure gold in 55:31, just three seconds ahead of Dyrdahl, unable to match his rival’s pace but taking home the U23 world title. Chestikov crossed just a second behind, Zalavtsev (55:59) and Saravalle (56:06) rounding out the top five.

Elite Women
Daria Rogozina stayed cool, calm and collected after leaving the very first transition with a narrow lead, racing solo for over an hour to add yet another Winter Triathlon world title to her collection. It was a performance built on controlled speed and flawless transitions, stretching the field early on the first bike segment and hammering home the advantage on the skis.  

Behind her, compatriot Alina Liagaeva and Italy’s Axelle Vicari were locked in a tight battle for the remaining podium places as Zuzana Michalickova (SVK) drifted out of medal contention.

Liagaeva and Vicari had matched Rogozina step for step in the early stages, the Italian just beginning to lose touch on the first bike. Rogozina would then consolidate her advantage on the second run and maintaining her rhythm through the technical sections of the course. Liagaeva responded well and refused to let the gap grow, while Vicari’s 9:13 – among the very fastest second run splits – briefly brought her closer to silver medal pace. However, the second bike leg saw the order stabilise: Rogozina’s powerful ride kept her in command, while Liagaeva enhanced her grip on second and Vicari was left her needing something very special on the skis.

Rogozina never looked like letting go of her lead as the final segment played out, sealing the title with a powerful yet controlled last lap that never allowed Liagaeva a realistic opening. Liagaeva crossed for silver and the U23 gold, Vicari home safely for bronze and the U23 silver, ahead of Michalickova in fourth and Germany’s Lorena Erl in fifth after another hour of compelling winter triathlon at the highest level.

Casper Rønning and Saveliy Anisimov completed the men’s U23 podium, the Junior Women’s title went to Lia Garafutdinova (AIN) with Austria’s Rosa Schmidt Moll and Czech athlete Edita Pozlerova joining her on the podium. In the Junior Men’s race, Dmitrii Shchegolev (AIN) held off Italy’s Vincenzo Scalet and compatriot Enrico Bucci for the title.