Mislawchuk powers to second in Punta Umbria
After the cancellation of WTS Abu Dhabi, some of the world's best triathletes jumped into the European Duathlon Championships, where Canadian Tyler Mislawchuk took second and two-time Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee was fourth.
There was no stopping duathlon specialist Benjamin Choquert from France, who remains unbeaten since April of last year, as he topped the field at the European Triathlon Union (ETU) Duathlon Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain. Austria’s Lisa Perterer took the women’s title.
After WTS Abu Dhabi was cancelled because of the Coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak, some of the world’s top triathletes headed to Spain in the hunt for a racing opportunity, albeit one without a swim – the European duathlon championships. Included amongst that group were two-time Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee and Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk.
Both found themselves unable to match the finishing kick of France’s Benjamin Choquert, who defended his title and proved why he won the world title last year, too, blasting through the final 2.5 km run in 6:54 to win by six seconds over Mislawchuk – 52:12 to 52:18. Brownlee led off the bike, but was unable to match the finishing kick of the eventual podium finishers – he was passed just before the line by another Frenchman, Krilan Le Bihan (52:20) and would have to settle with fourth in 52:21.
The full results are here.
Perterer surprises with a debut win
In her first international duathlon, Austria’s Lisa Perterer trailed former national team runner Beth Potter by 17 seconds after the first 5 km run, but then rode 35 seconds faster than the Brit, hitting the second 2.5 km run with just enough of a gap to hold on for the win in 58:45, with Potter crossing the line nine seconds later. Venezuela’s Jocelyn Daniely Brea Abreu, who represented Spain, took the bronze medal in 1:00:01.
You can find the complete results here.
