The men’s races at the 2024 World Triathlon Para Championships had a bit of everything. From dominant victories to nail-biting finishes, and from stunning upsets to coronations of Para triathlon legends, there was something for everyone across six mesmerising events. With 750m in the sea, 19.2km on a twisting bike course, and a pancake-flat 5km run, the ingredients were there for a memorable day. The athletes duly transformed the action into something truly special indeed.
PTWC – Plat lays to rest 2023 disappointment
Giuseppe Romele H1 (ITA) was the first out of the water in the men’s PTWC event. However, there was more to his lead than met the eye as Jetze Plat H2 (NED), the Paralympic champion (in Para triathlon and Para cycling), had gained significant ground. H2 athletes started behind H1 athletes and so while Romele still led the race, Plat had perhaps enjoyed the better start on balance.
Once onto the bike – Plat’s great strength – the Dutch athlete ate into the deficit. By the first time check, the gap had been knocked down to 39 seconds, a far cry from the 3 minute advantage the H1 athletes started with. By the next checkpoint, Plat had swept into the lead. What was remarkable about his effort was not simply the power he was able to produce, but also the technical ability and speed he was able to carry through the corners. Seeing him in full flow made it seem borderline illogical that anyone could catch him (and if you missed it would certainly be worth watching back on TriathlonLive). Nevertheless, his rivals threw everything they could at the task.
Romele and the Austrian duo of Thomas Fruehwirth H1 and Florian Brungraber H2 were pushing hard to get back into the race. Fruehwirth, a fantastic cyclist who claimed silver behind Plat at the Paralympics, constantly threatened in his first World Triathlon Para Championship appearance since 2011, when he won the old TRI-1 class. Making up for lost time, Fruehwirth secured a hold on the silver medal as he exited T2.
On the run, though, Brungraber drew level with his compatriot as Plat disappeared up the road. No one could stop Plat and Brungraber marshalled all of his experience to beat his compatriot to 2nd place. After the race, Plat had an eye on the past as well as the future. He reflected on settling for the silver medal at the 2023 edition following a puncture, noting how sweet victory today was in the knowledge that things can go wrong. At the same time, he is due to become a father at the start of 2025, something he called, “the most important goal for the future.”
PTVI – Ellis overcomes French threat
The Paralympic and European champion Dave Ellis B3 (GBR) has been the class of the PTVI field for years but he did not have things all his own way in Torremolinos. Antoine Perel B1 (FRA) was the top swimmer ahead of Ellis, who emerged 5 seconds down. Oscar Kelly B3 (GBR) then rose from the water 11 seconds behind Perel.
Ellis stalked Perel though the first lap of the bike while Thibaut Rigaudeau B3 (FRA) moved past Kelly. Slowly, the three leaders coalesced and by the end of the bike Ellis, Perel and Rigaudeau were inseparable. On the tight circuit, overtaking opportunities on the tandem bike were limited and every move was met by a counter-move until they eventually dismounted together.
Ellis emerged first onto the run in an attempt to stamp his authority on the race. After a bold effort on the bike, Perel was the first to crack. Rigaudeau, however, fought on. Over the course of the 5km, though, Ellis ever so gradually eased away, claiming the gold and completing an awesome season. Rigaudeau followed in 2nd place while Perel was next home in 3rd.
In his post-race assessment, Ellis said, “The sea swim was a bit different. We don’t have it that often so that was a bit of a challenge, but I quite liked that. It made it a tough swim so that was good. The course was quick on the bike, we were proper flying around. And then the run was quick, so I was happy with that.”
PTS5 – Daniel bounces back from Paris heartbreak
The clash of the Paralympic champions did not quite materialise as Martin Schulz, the victor from Tokyo, withdrew ahead of the race. The spectre of Paris and the Games nonetheless hung over the race.
Tom Williamson (IRL) led out of the water in a bright start with Filipe Marques (POR) and Jack Howell (AUS) on his heels. The 2022 world champion Stefan Daniel (CAN) and the newly-crowned European champion Bence Mocsari (HUN) pushed to make up the ground, hovering within striking distance. However, the reigning Paralympic champion, Chris Hammer (USA), was 9th out of the water and 10th out of T1 with a deficit of 2min 19sec. As such, he faced an uphill challenge.
The story of the race, though, was Daniel. In Paris, he had taken the race lead and put Paralympic gold seemingly in his own hands until a crash on the bike robbed him of his moment in the sun. By the midpoint of the bike in Torremolinos, Daniel had closed the gap to the leaders and a similar chance to move into the lead was in the offing. Mocsari still hung 29 seconds back while Hammer was still over 2 minutes back. Although it might have been justified for Daniel to play it safe after his Paris crash, he instead opted to seize the lead.
Howell lost touch at the front a little on the final lap as Daniel’s pressure told. Once through T2, Marques also slipped back before Williamson finally cracked. In a race that may exorcise at least some of the bitter memories of the Games, Daniel soared to the world title in style.
“I had tough luck in Paris,” he said afterwards. “That was the whole goal of the year and I had some bad luck. I was able to pick myself back up the past four/five weeks and I was able to stick with it and I am really happy with this result.”
Meanwhile, Howell moved up to 2nd place on the run but faced a late charge from Marques. The young Australian was able to hold off his Portuguese rival in a breakthrough performance while Marques was elated to claim the bronze ahead of the fast-closing Paralympic champion.
PTS4 – Another superlative win for Hanquinquant
At this point, Alexis Hanquinquant (FRA) is running out of ways to win. Rather than make this race overly complicated, the Paralympic gold medallist produced a professional performance in which he led for every second of the race.
“Seven titles,” he exclaimed at the finish line. “I’m very happy. It was a better season for me. I won in Paris, I won here, it was a good year.”
Gregoire Berthon (FRA) was Hanquinquant’s closest rival at first, leaving T1 only 15 seconds down on his compatriot. Liam Twomey (AUS) followed, some 48 seconds back. Over the bike, though, Hanquiquant was simply in a league of his own. He built a lead of over 2 minutes and then cruised to yet another world title. As such, the real action was to be found further behind.
Berthon arrived in T2 over a minute ahead of a chase pack containing Nil Riudavets Victory (ESP), Pierre-Antoine Baele (FRA) and Carson Clough (USA). With two Paralympic medallists and a medallist from the Olympic Test Event, Berthon had his work cut out to hold on. At each checkpoint, the chasers chomped into his advantage, with Riudavets emerging as the primary threat.
By the end of the 5km run, Berthon had run out of steam. Riudavets and then Baele passed him to take 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.
PTS3 – Urand stuns Paralympic champion
Throughout much of the men’s PTS3 race, it seemed a Paralympic rematch of sorts was on the cards, particularly after Daniel Molina (ESP) led Max Gelhaar (GER) through the swim. Molina had powered to gold in Paris, with Gelhaar taking silver. With only 22 seconds between them out of T1, though, the race was wide open. Moreover, when Gelhaar came through on the bike in a similar manner to their contest at the Games, the prospects of an exquisite finish only grew stronger.
Then Henry happened.
Having come into Para triathlon from Para cycling, Henry Urand (GBR) was always likely to lean on the second discipline. He moved into 2nd place heading into T2, 48 seconds down on Gelhaar. Molina was a further 5 seconds behind 53 seconds. Urand then flew onto the run at a blistering pace. Suddenly, he found himself in 1st place with an 18 second lead and one lap to go.
At the next checkpoint, Urand led Molina by 25 seconds. Scenting the awaiting glory, he forged onwards and won by 51 seconds in total. The stunned Molina took the silver medal while Gelhaar rounded out the podium. After all the talk of the two-man race beforehand, there will certainly be a new name to watch when the 2025 season rolls around.
PTS2 – De Paepe etches name into history books
Wim De Paepe (BEL) was the fastest swimmer in the men’s PTS2 race, although his advantage was slim. Paralympic champion Jules Ribstein (FRA) followed 7 seconds behind while Lionel Morales (ESP) was only 10 seconds adrift.
Over the course of the first bike lap, it became clear that the race was between Ribstein and De Paepe as they duelled it out on two wheels. The gap between them reached 11 seconds but then news came that had the potential to change everything. Ribstein had been hit with a penalty for a mount line violation.
In the end, the penalty came to naught as Ribstein retired from the race due to medical reasons soon after, pulling out on the third lap. That left De Paepe with clear air and a dreamlike lead over almost 2 minutes over his next closest challenger, Morales.
As the Belgian cruised to the world title, Vasilii Egorov (AIN) moved past Morales on run to claim the silver medal.
