Erik Merino makes a podium at the Ventouxman

The professional triathlete from Muntanyola,  Erik Merino  (Club Triatló Granollers) has finished this past Sunday, September 18 in third position in the triathlon of the VentouxMan (France)

The departure was at 7:40 in the morning at Lapaloud Lake, where due to the strong wind that was blowing, the ambient temperature was 10 degrees.

 The 2.000m swim was led at all times by Erik Merino, leaving the first at the end of the water with a time of 27:57 and 40 seconds ahead of the second classified.

Then 90 kilometers of cycling with two well-differentiated parts. In the first few kilometres, which are practically flat, the man from Muntanyola kept the lead until the Frenchman Theo Debard (final winner) overtook him.

The last 40 kilometers is where the unevenness of this segment is concentrated (almost 2.000m of positive ascent) with the Col de la Madeleine and Mont Ventoux (21km at 7.4%).

Erik Merino always remained in the top four and crowned the top of the mythical port half a minute from the podium.

The last section of the foot race was held at the Mont Serein ski resort (1.438m) with 20 kilometers of trail along the slopes and paths of the ski resort. Erik Merino came back to third position with the best partial on foot.

With this third position, the triathlete from Muntanyola is the only triathlete in the history of this event to have finished on all steps of the podium.

In post-race statements, Erik told us: “EI am satisfied with today's race, getting out of the water first was very special, Mont Ventoux respected us with a good day without wind and I enjoyed and suffered in equal parts the foot race".