Gustavo Rodríguez and Aída Valiño win again in Pálmaces

An hour and a half before the start of the test there were already athletes in the Plaza de Pálmaces trying to rest, others doing something on the bike or talking about the ups and downs of the race. On a cloudy summer day, with a wind that appeared in gusts and that became the main actor in this edition of the race.

At the 16.30 hours the swimming test began, with an impeccable, very orderly start. The public gathered at the edge of the reservoir to watch the spectacles of the strokes and the foam while waiting for the swimmers to complete the 1.800 meters of course. The first to leave the water was Jordi Giménez, visibly tired, and almost at the same time Aida Valiño and Brais Canosa also left. From there, on the way to Atienza, 60 kilometers of cyclist test started. On the way out, with the wind in favor, the bicycles pushed the participants. On the way back, however, it prevented them from recovering when they came face to face.

With a time of 1: 51: 44 Gustavo Rodriguez arrived at the fronton with certain calmness. He left in the 26 position of swimming, but he recovered all the lost time until he took the lead. He left his bicycle, changed his shoes, put on his glasses and started the race on foot. By public address they announced the abandonment due to a puncture in the wheel of Brais Canosa. Four minutes later, Dani Múgica arrived, a specialist in the race on foot.

199 athletes continued the race on foot after 26 dropouts. It is a circuit of 12 kilometers that runs through the streets of the town and the dam. The first to cross the finish line, Gustavo Rodríguez, who repeated triumph with a time of 2: 41: 15, raising his hands when he arrived and with an expression of absolute satisfaction on his face. "I'm very excited, this is a very special triathlon for me, all the triathletes that come here are grateful to the people who are involved with us, it's impressive, it's an honor to win here," he said at the end.

Three minutes after Rodriguez crossed the finish line Daniel Múgica, who cut more than a minute in the race on foot. "Thank you very much everyone," he managed to say as he took a breath. "He knows me to glory, because I love this race," he pointed out. Guillermo Bogas, third classified. Gustavo comes over to say hello. Upon the arrival of Aída Valiño, first in its category and fourteenth in the race, the audience applauded even more strongly. It also repeats triumph. "I'm very happy, this triathlon is amazing, I like it a lot," she said tiredly but very smiling. The Olympic Ana Burgos, winner two years ago, arrived second and then, Yolanda Santos, of the Guadalajara Triathlon Club, completing the women's podium.

The Guadalajara Triathlon Club was also proclaimed team champion in both categories, thanks to the performances of Pablo Aparicio, Alberto Codinach and Adolfo Giménez in boys and Yolanda Santos, María Barriopedro and Arantxa Saldise in girls. As for the local runners, Jaime Vaquerizo was the first to enter, in the 108 position. Second, Roberto Sánchez, the 163. The first woman of Pálmaces to enter was Brigitte Bertrand, fourteenth in the women's general.

Before the awards ceremony, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the Toledo David Quirós, very young triathlete (23 years) and recently died in a career accident. After each triathlete received their corresponding recognition, dinner music and party for the whole town.