The Polar International Triathlon Cannes guarantees two things: big names and a deadly bike leg. The fifth edition was no different, a 107km bike course with 1800m gain is what elite athletes such as Javier Gomez, Lucy Charles and 24 Belgians. As could be expected, these elite athlete won the race, but both were up for a challenge.
Gomez exited the water right behind French Robin Pasteur, but left the latter behind in transition. He was seemingly heading towards a very long solo, but that’s when Sam Laidlaw showed up. The 19 year old French easily closed the gap on the Spanish after 30km and together they went. Sam’s brute force was seemingly too much for his bike and with 35km to go he broke his chain. Gomez solo once more and Sam, who was eager to finish, shouldered his bike and ran the last 35km to… arrive late in T2. Gomez pushed on and faced no more threats. The closing 10 mile run was finished in a whopping 51’23. Gomez won the crooked half (2/107/16) in 4hr27’12. On the podium he was accompanied by Kevin Maurel in 4u39’32 and Malte Plappert in 4hr40’24.
Right behind the happy duo Pasteur-Gomez none less than Lucy Charles followed. The Hawaii 2017 runner-up put the competition far behind after her trademark swim split, but ran flat after 10km on the bike. After a tire change she was up for a long chase, being only in fourth position. With 8km to go on the bike she retook the lead, be it so with a far smaller gap. But it was enough to allow her to run for the win in 5hr14’27. She was followed by Johanna Daumas Carrier in 5hr16’59 and Marion Gay-Pageon in 5hr24’14.
The Belgian performances were promising as well. In the senior ranking Marielle Lacroix took fifth place. Arne Devliegher and Christopher Loose somehow managed to get on the pro start list and obtained an 8th and 13th spot. A shame, Arne would have been on the podium in the senior ranking. Sweta Meersman was 10th female, Thomas Vanhals 48th and 25 seconds later @T0v3 on 49th.
