Italy’s Franco Pesavento secured an outstanding second winter world triathlon title on Saturday in the mountain of Pragelato, making a bold breakaway early on the first run segment that he was able to stick for the duration of the race.
It was a case of revenge for the previous day’s duathlon defeat at the hands of Norway’s defending champion Hans Christian Tungesvik, who couldn’t match the impressive run-bike speed of his rival over the first half of the race, leaving too much ground to make up over the ski. Tungesvik was locked in a battle for silver with master of the mountain bike Marek Rauchfuss, before pulling clear over the final kilometres, the Czech scoring his sixth podium in the competition.
“That was tough,” admitted Pesavento, “but I just tried to push on the climbs and was able to stay clear. It feels great to win, especially here in Italy. The organisers have done such a great job to hold this race and I want to thank my team. I knew I had to put the pace on from the start and it was enough to win the gold.”
There was no doubt as to Italy’s 2022 World Champion’s intentions as he put the hammer down from the start horn and threw caution to the wind in establishing a commanding 30 second lead after just two 2km run laps.
It was an important margin, too, Rauchfuss immediately reeling him in on the first mountain bike, Italian Alessandro Saravelle also going well with teammate Giuseppe Lamastra, Tungesvik dropping another 30 seconds back from the leader.
Once into his favoured skis, however, it wasn’t long before defending champion was slicing through the field, but even as he closed in on second he could only claw 40 seconds back from the leader.
At the end of the second run it was Pesavento under the bridge first and into transition then out onto his bike with a healthy 40 second lead over Tungesvik, who himself now had the same margin over Rauchfuss and a minute over Lamastra and Romania’s Viorel Palici.
Rauchfuss was attacking hard to close the gap to Tungesvik and eventually passed him on lap two, but both were still a full minute off Pesavento who was into his skis and away as his rivals entered transition.
A swift T2 and Tungesvik was out with Rauchfuss, both giving chase but, with 65seconds to make up over the final 6km ski, it quickly looked like an impossible task. The Norwegian pulled 10 seconds out after first climb and descent, 10 more on the flat but he could do no more to catch the flying Italian as he soared down the final straight and took his flag and the tape by 35 seconds.
A smiling Tungesvik crossed for silver a full 90 seconds ahead of Rauchfuss in third, Lamastra another minute back in fourth, Palici fifth.
For full results click here.
