Men's Triathlon Chronicle in Baku "Baku from the sofa" by Felipe Gutiérrez

Fernando Alarza finished in eleventh position. Francesc Godoy 17º and David Castro finished the 24ª.

 

Again waiting for the teledeporte to give us this morning a complete test of triathlon and without the cuts of yesterday alternating with the Mountain Bike.

Three are the Spaniards in this appointment of the so-called European Olympic Games that are being held in Baku of a total of 57 triathletes that will take the start.

With the 3 number will come out Fernando Alarza, one of the favorites to "touch medal", with the 4 number Francesc Godoand and with the 17 David Castro

And known to the Spanish because they run with the Toledo Bicycle Club Pina - Soliss - Tritoledo, with number 9 Rostyslav Pevtsov, formerly Ukrainian now from Azerbayan and for Ukraine, with number 28, Oleksey Syutkin, and with number 14 Iván Ivanov

IMPOSSIBLE TELEDEPORTE

Well nothing that does not connect in time and past the 9'30 and when the triathletes are in the water we can see the first images.

Images where we can see the slovako Richard Varga marking the pace of the test as well as usual in the world cups.

Today the Caspian Sea is calmer than with the women of yesterday's test. A group of six triathletes is formed, including Francesc Godoy, as well as Andrea Salvisberg, Dmitry and Igor Polyansky and Thomas Bishop.

Behind a large group which includes David Castro and Fernando Alarza, one of the favorites for the medals as we said earlier.

The getaways begin, the changes of rhythm, everything suggests that the bicycle will only serve to tire some and that everything will develop in the final km 10.

Thomas Bishop tries the solo escape in this "luxury polygon" where a test is developed that almost nobody sees live,

It is clear that neither the other two Englishmen would allow him to go alone and a new group is formed that reaches the end of the 5 turn a little ahead of the large group where the Spaniards are, to be exact with a difference of 58 ".

The three English send in that group of nine escaped and is preparing the arrival at the T2.

In the persecuting group the "jumps" begin and David Castro tries, let's see what happens in this final part.

THE TEN LAST KILOMETERS "TO DEATH"

It seems that the surprise will jump in the final classification, the running away from the Englishman Gordon Bensón could give him the gold medal as he increases the meters on the Swiss Andrea Salvisberg his companion in the first kilometers on foot.

And there could also be surprise for the Turkish Jonas Schomburg who is in third place, followed by Richard Varga and all this in the absence of a walk.

The Swiss has to stop in the penalty box and not only lose a place, behind the Portuguese also Joao Silva ahead and goes hunting for Turkish and English.

Joao Silva securing a medal for Portugal in this last lap, leaves behind the Turkish Jonás Schomburg and goes to Bensón decided to catch him. Gold could fall for Portugal as Joao Silva goes for that gold of these Games.

... But he lacked meters and the victory is achieved by the Englishman Gordon Bensón in 1 h 48'31 ", while Joao Silvto get the silver to 11 "from English. The bronze medal for the "Spanish" of Bicycles Pina de Toledo, Rostyslav Pevtsov before Ukrainian now from Azerbaijan and getting the first medal for the organizing country,

Aleksandr Latin entered 50 "and achieved fourth place ahead of Richard Varga that I did to 1'01. " While the Swiss Andrea Salvisberg that "juice" for the medals had to settle for the sixth place ahead of Alexander Bryukhankov which was seventh and the Portuguese Joao Pereira which was eighth to 1'15 "of gold.

The Spaniards were there, it did not give us the impression at any moment of being able to be in the fight for the medals.

His results were:

• 11º Fernando Alarza to 1'58 "
• 17º Francecs Godoy to 2'52 "
• 24º David Castro to 4'07 "

 

And without further ado the triathlon of this I European Games with a diploma of Tamara Gómez and for now many frustrated illusions. We will have to continue looking to be at the Rio Olympic Games and fight for Olympic diplomas at least. There is little time left and much work ahead.

Those who really had a good time in this circuit were the goalkeepers of the urbanization farms that could see in the front row the triathletes pass in front of the door where they were.

This time the triathlon has not had a live audience or at least the television director has not been able to offer us that plane full of people wanting to see triathlon, all we saw had staff credentials, volunteers, technicians and triathletes.

Now we will continue with the World Cup where our three Spaniards currently occupy the top positions.

Felipe Gutiérrez

Photo: @joelfilliol