A monumental bike breakaway from Davide Menichelli earned the Italian newcomer a superb Duathlon world title on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, and the gold medal at both the elite and U23 levels.
After flying out of transition one and riding solo for more than half the 30km ride,
Belgium's Martin Oldenhove was able to bridge up and the pair worked beautifully together and the chasers were caught napping, the lead going out to a minute and proving unassailable, France's Adrien Pilleux able to surge late to bronze.
“I can’t describe this feeling. I came with expectation and knew I could do a breakaway but didn’t think I could make a gap like that and take the win. I know I’m a good biker and this is how I race, I like the pain and today was the perfect day to do it.”
Defending world champion Benjamin Choquert took to the front of the opening stages of the first 5km run, Belgium’s Jonathan Wayaffe and Arnaud Dely going well but it was a big pack of 15 running together before Menichelli moved late to hit the front into and out of the first transition and took the rest of the field by complete surprise.
And the Italian managed to stay away, too, Belgium’s Oldenhove 25 seconds back at the halfway point, then a group including Arnaud Dely and Choquert 40 seconds back, Hadas and Hodgson a minute off the leader.
Oldenhove dug deep and managed to reel in Menichelli late on lap three, and that duo worked brilliantly together to stretch the gap to the chasers all the way to a minute as the final transition came into view.
Oldenhove was quickest through T2, but Menichelli was soon into his flow and pulling clear, and already had 15 seconds to his rival after 1500m. The Russian Karpeev moved clear into third at that stage as Belgian duo Wayaffe and Dely couldn’t make any inroads to the deficit, Choquert two minutes back, his race run.
At the bell it was still the Italian looking strongest and Menichelli had the course to himself for the final lap, reflecting on a brave tactical breakaway that he made stick, Oldenhove’s help in that final lap potentially decisive and the Belgian holding off the late challenge of Pilleux to take the silver, the Frenchman’s late surge earning him bronze.
