Duathlon was on the menu at the weekend with the World Triathlon Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon Championships taking place in Germany and the European Duathlon Championships being contested in Poland. To go with that, there were maiden international wins in Asia and a certain marathon debut by a key player in the WTCS. Find out all the talking points from these events, and more, in this week’s Monday Morning Mix.
World Middle Distance Duathlon Championships Alsdorf
Simon Jørn Hansen (DEN) and Merle Brunnée (GER) came away with the gold medals in Alsdorf after entering the event as favourites. Jørn Hansen was ever-present at the front of the race and made his decisive move away from his two fellow leaders at the start of the second run. Meanwhile, Brunnée had to dig herself out of a hole after the first 10km run. She nonetheless powered through the bike, logging the best split of the field by several minutes, to set up her victory.
Ondrej Kubo (SVK) and Jonathan Wayaffe (BEL) were next over the line in 2nd and 3rd in the men’s race. After putting Brunnée under pressure with the first 10km run, Rachel Brown (GBR) and Madlen Kappeler (GER) took silver and bronze, respectively, in the women’s event. View the full results here.
Europe Duathlon Championships Rumia-Pomorskie
The 2024 Long Distance Duathlon world champion Emile Blondel Hermant (FRA) won the men’s race in Poland, taking down the reigning duathlon world champion Javier Martin Morales (ESP) and the 2024 world silver medallist Benjamin Choquert (FRA).
All the contenders had remained fairly close together heading onto the bike but when Blondel Hermant and David Menichelli (ITA) broke away the game changed. They put almost 50 seconds into their nearest competitors by the end of the 20km segment. Choquert’s field-leading 6:49 2.5km run split over the second run was over 30 seconds quicker than the lead pair, but not enough to close the gap. Blondel Hermant therefore won ahead of Menichelli, with Choquert settling for 3rd place.
In the women’s race, Maria Varo Zubiri (ESP) and Noemi Bogiatto (ITA) did their damage early on. Over the first 5km run, they put 25 seconds into the field before riding together on the bike. On the final run, the lead pair were then able to withstand the charge from the field. Varo Zubiri had enough left in the tank to seal the victory, with Bogiatto claiming the silver medal. Alice Bagarello (ITA) took 3rd place after recording the fastest 2.5km run of the field (7:53).
Carol Popa (ROU) won the junior men’s race with a late attack on the final run. Hanna Foltyniewicz (POL) earned the gold in the junior women’s race in the same manner. View the full results here.
Asia Cup Pokhara
Peter Luftensteiner (AUT) scooped the first international win of his career over the sprint distance Asia Cup in Nepal. Yuya Kobayashi (JPN) and Aleksandr Kurishov (UZB) had put over 30 seconds into the field in the 750m before the field came back to them on the bike.
Luftensteiner was in the pack that made it to the front. He then uncorked a 14:50 5km run, the only split under 15 minutes, which was more than enough to secure the gold. Itamar Levanon (ISR) was next over the line while Teppei Tokuyama (JPN) rounded out the podium.
Gyeongmin Park (KOR) cruised to victory by over a minute in the women’s race. A lead pack of three rode the 20km bike together after Park caught swim leaders Kanae Takenaka (JPN) and Minori Ikeno (JPN). Coming into T2, they had established a substantial lead with no one else in sight.
From there, Park clocked 17:27 over the 5km to beat her fellow leaders by over a minute. As with Luftensteiner, this represented her first ever international win. Takenaka then got the better of Ikeno to take the silver medal ahead of her compatriot. View the full results here.
Around the world
For months whispers had fluttered asking just how quickly Alex Yee (GBR) would run on his marathon debut. Heading into the weekend, such discussions only intensified as the Olympic champion’s race through London drew nearer. A sterling effort saw him achieve a final time of 2:11:08, putting him 14th overall and the 2nd Brit home.
He was paced by fellow triathlete and World Cup winner Hugo Milner (GBR) until the 30km mark. Milner will now have a couple of weeks to shake the effort from his legs ahead of WTCS Yokohama but we will have to wait and see when Yee’s next triathlon appearance will be. Paralympic champion Jetze Plat (NED) also dazzled in London as he took the bronze medal in the elite men’s wheelchair race.
A week prior, Tanja Neubert (GER) ripped a 1:11:40 half marathon to notch 3rd place at the German Half Marathon Championships. With two WTCS top-6 finishes already to her name, the young German’s performance showed that she may become an even more significant threat in the Series this year.
Over in Spain, several WTCS athletes took on Ironman 70.3 Valencia. Jeanne Lehair (LUX) took the silver medal on her debut over the distance. Her training partner Miriam Casillas Garcia (ESP) crossed in 5th place. Adrien Briffod (SUI) also secured a medal, placing 3rd in the men’s place. Simon Westermann (SUI) was not far behind in 5th place while WTCS medallist Roberto Sanchez Mantecon (ESP) was another place back in 6th.