Larache Africa Premium Cup
One thing was for sure: the German team had a lot of fun in the men’s race. Chris Ziehmer (GER) came out on top as his countrymen swept the podium after four German athletes had broken clear on the bike. None of the Germans were the first out of the water; that honour went to Oliver Hostrup Sahlberg (DEN) who clocked 10:06 for the sprint distance 750m swim. Ziehmer, Benedikt Bettin, Till Kramp and Maximilian Krüger soon took over on the bike, though.
There were faster runners in the end, the top split being taken by Lorenzo Pelliciardi (ITA) in 15:06. But no one would catch Ziehmer, Kramp or Bettin as they finished in that order.
In the women’s race, Marta Pintanel Raymundo (ESP) was a cut above the rest as she cruised to a 24 second victory. Like Ziehmer, Pintanel had been well-positioned towards the front out of the water and consolidated her position on the bike. There was to be no similar race-defining breakaway and when recent Saidia World Cup medallist Danielle Orie (USA) did not finish, the coast was clear for Pintanel to breeze away.
Adding another medal for Team Germany was Lily-Marie Overberg as she held off Isla Britton (CAN) in the closing stages. Britton then came away with the bronze medal. View the full results here.
Tiszaujvaros World Cup
The showpiece of the weekend was of course the Tiszaujvaros World Cup. Over the past quarter-century, the event has seen some spectacular battles and showings, and this weekend was no different.
Lisa Tertsch (GER) won the women’s race after having seemed set to win in complete comfort. That was until Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) appeared to throw a spanner in the works. Tertsch would out-kick the Belgian at the last, but she certainly had to push for her win. 2023 race winner Tilda Månsson (SWE) managed to come through afterwards to earn the bronze.
As has been the case at every Tiszaujvaros race this decade, Csongor Lehmann (HUN) took home the gold medal before an adoring home crowd. This was a race he led virtually throughout as his fellow breakaway partners joined him on the podium. Igor Dupuis was the man to take silver as he beat out Márk Dévay (HUN). View the full results here.
Tiszaujvaros Europe Junior Cup
Prior to the World Cup action of Sunday afternoon, there was double Australian delight in the Tiszaujvaros junior races. Addison Houslip (AUS) took down a plethora of Hungarian hopefuls with a dogged performance in which she took the lead early on in the 3.6km run and never looked back. Laura Szóbácsi (HUN) and Jázmin Kropkó (HUN) had escaped in an early breakaway before being reeled in. They subsequently tried to hunt Houslip down on the run, but the Australian would not be denied.
Over in the men’s event, Jack Woodberry (AUS) prevailed after a tense run showdown with another Hungarian duo. Woodberry had appeared in trouble for large swathes of the bike as he was trapped in the chase pack. Eventually, however, he and his group caught up with the lead pack. At the front, Zalán Trungel-Nagy (HUN) was among the favourites for the win after taking gold last year and by the final lap he was one of the few able to live with Woodberry’s repeated attacks. He could not match the Australian’s final kick, though, and settled for silver just ahead of Zsombor Holba (HUN). View the full results here.
Around the world
Jonas Schomburg (GER) has been a fixture on the WTCS for years, enjoying success through World Cup medals and qualifying for the Olympic Games. His newest career high point came this weekend as he took a gutsy silver medal at Challenge Roth. Schomburg led for a long stretch, even holding the top spot at the midpoint of the run. He ultimately succumbed to former Ironman world champion Sam Laidlow. This, however, was a real statement performance in his foray into long distance.
Another WTCS athlete, Lena Meißner (GER), impressed over the longer format as she clinched the European Ironman 70.3 in a photo finish against fellow German Caroline Pohle. After a protest, Meißner was relegated to 2nd place but nonetheless came away with a highly creditable finish.
