In this half-Ironman World Cup (1.9 km swimming, 90 km cycling, 21 km walking), the Olympic distance specialists took the lion’s share since the Frenchman Léo Bergère completed the podium. This really promises for the future.
Coming out of the water in 10th position, 0’34 behind the American Greg Harper, Jelle Geens quickly moved up to 5th place, 0’14, during the first transition. But it was Léo Bergère who first got on the bike to start the 90 km course.
Quickly, a group of eight triathletes isolated themselves at the front, in single file, all in less than ten seconds, which did not prevent the French Mathis Margirier from being inflicted with a penalty for “drafting”. Damage…
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It was at the end of the bike that Hayden Wilde took the lead, ahead of the German Rico Bogen, reigning world champion, and… Jelle Geens. From there, the New Zealander had almost won the race, running being one of his strong points. But no doubt he had assumed his strength because the rest of the ordeal was dramatic for the man who is the companion of… Hanne De Vet.
If Jelle Geens lost weight over the kilometers, he had an incredible surge to catch up with Hayden Wilde, in agony, in a few kilometers. Behind the Belgian, Léo Bergère resisted Kyle Smith, another New Zealander, excited in front of his audience. And the podium looked like this: 1. Jelle Geens 3h32.09; 2. Hayden Wilde 3:33.22; 3. Léo Bergère 3:35.08.
On the women’s side, victory went to the American Taylor Knibb, crowned for the third time in a row. Knibb completed the event in 3h57.34. The American took the lead from the first kilometers on the bike and never let go. Only the British Kat Matthews managed to get closer to her in the half-marathon to finish 1.15 behind the American, in 3h58.49.
On the Belgian side, Hanne De Vet and Valérie Barthelemy were respectively ranked 15th, in 4h12.53, and 25th, in 4h17.10. Hanne and Valérie had come out of the water less than thirty seconds from the lead. If De Vet managed to stay in a second group behind Knibb, Barthelemy fell back a little. But both finished this World Cup in the top 25.
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