Spain’s David Castro and Margot Garabedian of France were crowned the 2021 World Aquathlon Champions in El Anillo - Extremadura on Saturday afternoon, as the first of two days of racing for the rearranged championships delivered no shortage of excitement for the Spanish crowds.
Castro left it late on the 5km run to
pass Richard Varga (SVK) and take the tape. The 28-year-old was third out of the
water but a quick transition and slip by Varga as he removed his wetsuit saw
the Spaniard out in second and well set to time his attack. Ander Noain (ESP)
crossed for a popular bronze as well as the U23 World title.
“This is my first world championships
and with Richard Varga here, wow - he was so fast that first 100m in the water
and I just wanted to follow him,” said a thrilled Castro. “Then it was full gas
on the first kilometre to catch him and I wanted to attack on the last 400m.
Richard is the best triathlon swimmer in the world, so to be out behind him was
great. Overall I’m very happy with how this year has gone, next year, who knows
what can happen!”
Garabedian led the women out of the
water and never looked back, despite the close attention of Sara Perez Sala
(ESP) behind. Slovakia’s Margareta Vrablova crossed in third to collect both
elite bronze and the title of Junior World Champion.
“This was my first time at these
World Championships so it’s great to get the win,” said Garabedian. “My plan was
to be in the top three out of the water, then coming out first I knew I just
had to run as fast as possible on the run. I’m so happy.”
It was the men out first off the
pontoon and into the huge reservoir of the purpose-built outdoor sports complex
for the 1km swim. Conditions had improved and the rain eased, and it was the
familiar sight of Varga’s smooth stroke out front through the first few hundred
metres.
Castro was able to stay well in
touch, though, exiting just 8 seconds back and taking advantage as his nearest
rivals, including compatriot Andres Cendan, struggled out of their wetsuits.
As the rest of the field made it up
the long path into transition, the shoes were on and the 5km run course circled
half of the El Anillo complex clockwise on gravel, before heading out along the
tarmac for a flat and fast second and final segment.
Varga held firm for as long as he
could, but Castro moved into striking distance 400m out from the line and the
Slovakian had no answer, the champion the only athlete able to break the
15-minute mark for the 5km, with a split of 14m53s.
U23 racer Noain followed across the
line some 35 seconds back and ahead of Great Britain’s Jimmy Lund and Cendan.
Martin Sauser (SUI) took the men’s Junior title thanks to a strong swim and 16m49
run.
“It was a good battle,” said Varga.
“I knew David had improved a lot on the swim and would be hard to beat, and he
caught me on the run. We ran together and I wanted to go my own pace, knowing
he’d be good on the sprint and I wasn’t prepared for that and had to push all
the way to the finish for second. I have four wins, this is now my second
silver, so very happy to collect another World Aquathlon podium and looking for
the fifth in the future!”
“I’m very happy to be U23 World
Champion again,” said Noain. “The race was very hard but my run was fast. They
(Castro and Varga) are on another level, so third was a very good position to
be in.”
Full men’s results can be found here.
https://triathlon.org/results/result/2021_world_triathlon_aquathlon_championships_el_anillo_extremadura1/526103?mc_cid=bd7c7773dd&mc_eid=6139649918
The women went out five minutes after
the men and it was Margot Garabedian leading the charge through the swim but
with Spanish star Perez Sala never far behind. Sara Guerrero (ESP) exited third
while Antoanela Manac (ROU) was nearly 30 seconds back as they came up the carpet
to transition and then began the two-lap run.
Ukraine’s Maryna Kyryk was also well
placed but lost touch in transition and was unable to make up the ground.
Manac, however, was able to reel in
several of those in front of her as the metres ticked by, but the pace further
ahead was relentless, Garabedian going on to post a 5km split of 17m35s, 12
seconds faster than a delighted Vrablova in third.
Fellow Slovak Zuzana Michalickova
followed ten seconds behind to register an excellent fourth and Junior silver
on her 19th birthday, Sara Guerrero finishing in fifth. Spain’s Laura Duran
Morote took the U23 World title in a tight finish with Sofiya Pryyma (UKR) and
Esther Gomez Gonzalez (ESP).
“It was a hard race," admitted
Perez. “My swim was a little slow but I was feeling better out on the run
course. I didn’t have enough power to catch the leader but I was feeling good
and had the sprint in the end.”
“It is amazing, I didn’t expect
this,” said a delighted Vrablova. “I was around fifth out of the water and the
swim was hard but it was amazing to be with Sara and she was able to push me
even more.”
Full women’s results can be found
here. https://triathlon.org/results/result/2021_world_triathlon_aquathlon_championships_el_anillo_extremadura1/526104?mc_cid=bd7c7773dd&mc_eid=6139649918
ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON
World Triathlon is the international
governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of triathlon and all
related multisport disciplines around the world, including duathlon, aquathlon,
cross triathlon and winter triathlon. Triathlon made its Olympic debut in
Sydney 2000, with a third medal event, the Mixed Team Relay, added to the
programme at Tokyo 2020, while para triathlon was first added to the Paralympic
programme at Rio 2016. World Triathlon is proudly committed to the development
of the sport worldwide, with inclusion, equality, sustainability and
transparency at our core as we seek to help triathletes at all levels of the
sport to be extraordinary.
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