After compatriot Ilona Hadhoum won the women's race, Nils Serre Gehri flew to World U23 Championship gold today
The sun was starting to set in Pontevedra, but Nils Serre Gehri’s (FRA) star had only just started its rise. After compatriot Ilona Hadhoum (FRA) made the graduation from former World Junior champion to World U23 champion earlier in the afternoon, Serre delivered the U23 title to sit alongside his 2024 junior crown with a scintillating burst on the run proving his pièce de resistance.
“It was an amazing day for me. I couldn’t ask for better,” said Serre. “The first lap on the swim was a bit difficult for me but fortunately I managed to follow the first guys and after I had to push really hard to join the first group. I was trying to save some energy on the bike and in the end I waited for the run.”
In a massive field of 69 men, getting off to a fast start was imperative. Zalán Hóbor (HUN) enjoyed the best opening lap and led the field into the second loop of the Lerez river. American Carter Stuhlmacher then took over pacesetting duties before exiting.
A thirteen-man front pack would subsequently form out of T1. Having left the water 9 seconds behind Stuhlmacher, Serre made it into the group, as did Europe Championship medallist Michael Gar (GBR), top seed and World Cup medallist Izan Edo Aguilar (ESP) and super cyclist Panagiotis Bitados (GRE).
Misfortune would soon hit Edo, however, as he and Pelayo González Turrez (ESP) came down on the bike. The front pack lost another member soon after as Stuhlmacher also fell back. Meanwhile, an immense turn by Toby Powers (FRA) – with contributions from Milan Lariviere (GBR), Ibe Baelde (BEL) and more – helped to close the gap. In doing so, they revitalized Edo’s race, boosting home hopes.
As the chasers drew closer, the front group tried to reorganise. Serre, Pablo Isotton (FRA) and Eirik Berling Grande (NOR) briefly hit the front, yet it was too late. And so, it came down to a running race out of T2. That, though, did not bother the rapid Serre one bit.
The Frenchman instantly took the lead out of transition. For a moment, it looked like he might run away with the race as Hadhoum had, however World Cup winner Solomon Okrafo-Smart (GBR) pegged Serre back. Gar likewise managed to regain lost time while Jaspar Ortfeld (GER) moved up to the front by the end of the first lap.
Before long, Edo was also in contention. With a growing set of challengers around him, Serre had to react. And on the third lap he did just that.
A sudden shift of gear bought him daylight. Then he turned the screw. With a lap to go, Serre was 12 seconds clear at the front, an advantage that would swell to 21 seconds by the finish. Having placed 4th on WTCS debut in Hamburg back in July, his abilities should have come as no surprise. Nevertheless, the way he wafted away the tension of the scenario and breezed to victory was truly impressive.
Behind Serre’s serene finish, the race for the podium entered a frantic final stage as Gar managed to hold off Hóbor who in turn managed to hold off collapsing until the finish line in a gutsy display. Edo crossed in 4th place, matching his fellow top seed Naomi Ruff (USA) in the earlier women’s race, while Okrafo-Smart and Ortfeld completed the top-6. Should this weekend’s WTCS Finals offer anything close to the drama of today’s World U23 Championships, we will be in for something remarkable.
