France’s Etienne Diemunsch won gold at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Cup in Huatulco on his fourth outing at the Mexican course.
Diemunsch proved to be the strongest during the run – powering into the lead after the transition from the cycling and then never relinquishing it on the four laps before the finish.
Belgium’s Jelle Geens took silver with Drew Box of Australia winning bronze – with both triathletes earning World Cup podium spots for the first time.
“I did not know what to expect today,” said Diemunsch, who won a World Cup race on Mexican soil in Cozumel in 2014.
“I felt very good but it was better on the final laps.
“This was the fourth time that I came here, so I know that it is important not to jump start too fast on the first lap of the run, but I was in front so I just continued the pace.
“I tried not to be too fast or too slow and it ended up okay.”
Despite an early morning start, the Mexican heat was again a factor as with the women’s elite race yesterday.
Mass packs appeared throughout the swimming and cycling before the Frenchman clicked through the gears in the run.
Elsewhere, there were victories at the ITU Sprint World Cup in Cagliari for Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt and Britain’s India Lee.
This was the first World Cup event to be held in Italy.
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz