Only a couple of weeks removed from the World Para-Triathlon Championships in Pontevedra, several of the best Para-Triathletes in the world were back on the blue carpet at the World Para Cup in Alhandra.
Having claimed a fourth world title in the PTS2 category a fortnight prior, Jules Ribstein of France cruised to another win. His compatriot, Stephane Bahier, provided an early challenge. Over the course of the race, though, Ribstein built a lead of over 2 minutes an won with ease.
Bahier took the silver medal while Gianluca Valori took 3rd place.
If the men’s PTS2 race had been one for the experienced Ribstein, the PTS3 event was one of a new face. Henry Urand of Britain won his first ever international medal with a breakout performance. Although he could not match the levels of Max Gelhaar, the race winner, Urand’s display was very promising for a young athlete.
Gelhaar took the win by over 2 minutes to win in comprehensive fashion. Diego Lardón Ferrer of Spain then claimed the bronze medal.
The men’s PTS4 event was by far the best race of the day as only 5 seconds separated the gold and silver medallists.
Benoit Berthon of France had only made his international debut at the European Championships in June. In Alhandra, he looked as if he had been racing on the circuit for years. He was the quickest man in the water, clocking 9:09, and built an early lead of 12 seconds to Liam Twomey. He then rode away from Twomey on the bike to consolidate his position.
However, Antonio Franko remained within striking distance. Although he arrived in T2 a minute behind Berthon, Franko had a fast run up his sleeve.
At each checkpoint, Franko sliced time off Berthon’s advantage. As they headed into the finish, Franko could see his rival and pushed harder. Yet he ran out of road and Berthon hung on to win by the slimmest of margins.
Finley Jakes won another medal for Britain as he finished 3rd.
Filipe Marques stepped up in front of his home crowd as he won a gold medal for Portugal. Like Berthon in the PTS4 race, he took the lead in the swim and did not look back. He would eventually win by 43 seconds.
The next man over the line was Bence Mocsari while Ugurcan Ozer finished 3rd.
Only two women contested the PTS2 event. Cecile Saboureau took the win over Neele Ludwig in relative comfort. Similarly, Coline Grabinski was the only athlete in the PTS3 category and so won gold.
Fresh off a silver medal at the World Championships, Marta Frances Gomez won the PTS4 race. She was too strong for Camille Seneclauze and Hannah Moore who completed the podium.
Moore had actually led the swim – a slight surprise given Frances Gomez had been a Paralympic swimmer – but there was no stopping the Spanish athlete on the bike or run.
After being part of a major battle in the PTS5 race in Pontevedra, Claire Cashmore had an easier time in Alhandra. She won her event by over 4 minutes. Gwladys Lemoussu and Marta Dzieciątkowska came home in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.
In the PTVI classification, world champion Dave Ellis matched Ribstein’s feat by adding another gold to his Pontevedra win. At no point in Alhandra did he look in any real discomfort. Thibaut Rigaudeau offered the sternest resistance but ultimately was powerless to stop Ellis from winning again,
Hector Catala, the silver medallist from the Tokyo Paralympics, took the bronze medal. However, he suffered from a heat stroke in the race, which spoke to the challenging conditions. Fortunately he was able to continue and was checked at the line.
Whereas Ellis had backed up his world title in Alhandra, the newly-crowned women’s PTVI champion was unable to do so. Francesca Tarantello slipped to 3rd after her sensational victory in Pontevedra. It would always be hard to come back so soon from such a high. However, nothing can be taken away from the performance of the race winner, Anja Renner.
Renner was a class apart and put in a fantastic all-round performance. Heloise Courvoisier took the silver medal.
Finally, in the men’s PTWC race, Giovanni Achenza beat Giuseppe Romele to the gold medal with Louis Noel winning bronze. None of the Pontevedra podium raced, leaving a wide open event. Achenza, however, made sure that the event was only open on paper.
Jessica Ferreira won the women’s PTWC event ahead of Melissa Nicholls and Emelia Parry.
You can view the full results here.
