Media

When Benjamin Choquert (FRA) arrived in Townsville, he knew he had a golden opportunity to win the world title in the elite men’s duathlon. A year prior, Mario Mola had denied him in Ibiza but with his Spanish rival absent Choquert had an opening to reclaim the crown he first won in 2019. Yet with the reigning European champion, Arnauld Dely (BEL), and the defending bronze medallist from Ibiza, Krilan Le Bihan (FRA), in the field, Choquert’s task was by no means simple. That trio led through the opening lap of the 5km run, with Le Bihan holding a slender advantage, and the action only intensified from there.

The three contenders led into T1 at the head of a scattered line of athletes. However, a pack of nine men soon formed around them on the bike and suddenly it was anyone’s game. Moreover, with the chase pack less than 20 seconds in arrears, the leaders were by no means safe. The packs did indeed merge to put fourteen together at the front which inspired a late spate of attacks. Nicolas Schyns (BEL) capitalised and curried a small lead into transition.

Out of T2, Javier Martin Morales (ESP) took over the lead before Le Bihan returned to the front. Choquert lurked in a dangerous position behind his compatriot but Dely struggled with the searing pace. Entering the final stretch, the race hung in the balance.

Choquert timed his move to perfection and made it into the blue carpet first. It looked to all that he would power to the line first even as Martin fought to regain the crucial few metres that separated them. In the most dramatic of finales, though, the Spanish athlete then stormed past Choquert with metres to spare and snatched the gold medal away.

“I don’t believe it!” exclaimed Martin at the finish. “Last year I couldn’t run this race in Ibiza because I ran the Marathon des Sables. This is very different racing but I love it.”

Choquert had to settle for a second consecutive silver while there was further success for France as Thomas Laurent (FRA) finished 3rd.

Separately, the junior men’s title was won by Fletcher Medway (AUS) after a star turn on the bike where he out-split his nearest rival by almost a minute. Divan De Vries (RSA) had the fastest run of the day and closed in on Medway but ultimately settled for silver. Finally, Caleb Wagener (NZL) came away with the bronze medal.