Antonio Benito triumphs in Pontevedra and retains his long-distance world title.
Antonio Benito He's done it again. The triathlete from Tomelloso, 30 years old, has conquered this Sunday in Pontevedra his second consecutive title Long Distance Triathlon World Champion, following his triumph in 2024 in Australia and silver in 2023 in Ibiza. This time, he achieved it at home, in front of a rabid crowd that celebrated his uncontested victory.
The man from La Mancha crossed the finish line with a time of 5:33:33, with more than 7 minutes advantage over the Frenchman Dylan magnien (5:40:52) and almost 8 over the British William draper (5:41:12). He is also Spanish Jordi Montraveta He had a great running race to finish in a creditable fifth position.
The race started at 8:00 a.m. with a 3.000-meter swim, without wetsuits due to the water temperature. Casimir Moine led the segment with 41:34, followed closely by Benito y Guillem MontielWhile Mikel Ugarte y Montraveta They came out of the water at 3 and 8 minutes respectively.
In the 120 km of cycling, divided into three laps, Montiel surprised with a slow but strategic transition, adjusting its aerodynamic position.
He reached the lead, pushed hard, and managed to open a gap before T2, knowing he was coming in with physical discomfort. He got off his bike first, with almost a two-minute lead over a chasing trio of riders. Benito , Monk y Vaelen.
Merciless foot race
The final 30 km were a masterclass for the Spaniard. From the first kilometer, he began to close the gap, taking the lead before completing the first lap. Shortly after, Montiel was forced to retire due to injury, while Monk I didn't even go out for a run.
With firm step, Benito extended his lead without looking back, securing the gold in a crushing fashion. Behind him, there was a nice fight for the podium, with Draper heads surpassing the Czech Lukas Kocar for just 10 seconds.
Men's Ranking – Top 10
| Job title | Athlete | Country | Final time |
| 1 | Antonio Benito | ESP | 05:33:33 |
| 2 | Dylan magnien | From | 05:40:52 |
| 3 | William draper | GBR | 05:41:12 |
| 4 | Lukas Kocar | CZE | 05:42:18 |
| 5 | Jordi Montraveta | ESP | 05:44:57 |
| 6 | Ondrej Kubo | SVK | 05:46:02 |
| 7 | louis naeyaert | BEL | 05:46:25 |
| 8 | Joshua Amberger | AUS | 05:46:47 |
| 9 | Rostislav Pevtsov | TRI | 05:47:55 |
| 10 | Tom Vaelen | BEL | 05:52:12 |
Marjolaine Pierré, untouchable in Pontevedra
In the female category, 12 women took the start, and it soon became clear that the Frenchwoman Marjolaine Pierre She was determined to repeat the victory achieved in Ibiza 2023.
Although the British Chloe Sparrow He led the swim with a time of 45:59, while Pierre quickly made up ground on the bike. He took the lead within the first 10 km and never relinquished it, setting an unbeatable pace.
He arrived at T2 with more than 13 minutes of advantage, and in the final 30 km he only consolidated his dominance to set a total time of 6:15:50.
Women's Ranking – Top 10
| Job title | Athlete | Country | Final time |
| 1 | Marjolaine Pierre | From | 06:15:50 |
| 2 | Martha Lagownik | POL | 06:27:12 |
| 3 | Charlene Clavel | From | 06:30:48 |
| 4 | Marta Bernardi | ITA | 06:42:38 |
| 5 | Hanna Maksimava | AIN | 06:54:56 |
| 6 | Margaret Bicanova | SVK | 07:14:47 |
| 7 | Julia Klein | GER | 07:29:44 |
| 8 | Simona Krivankova | CZE | 07:35:31 |
| 9 | Misaki Tanaka | JPN | 07:45:16 |
A World Cup with a Spanish flavor
With the public in the streets of Pontevedra, Spain has celebrated a historic day with Antonio Benito As a two-time world champion, his dominance on foot and solidity throughout the course consolidate his status among the best long-distance triathletes today.
In the female category, Marjolaine Pierre remains unrivaled in this format and is headed for an era of dominance if it maintains its level.
