On a sun-kissed Friday afternoon in Ibiza’s San Antonio, it was Italy’s multisport queen Sandra Mairhofer who once again made the transition from ski to swim look like the most natural thing in the world, this year’s champion in the snow of Norway scooping up the summer Cross Triathlon world title with a typically dominant mountain biking display.
Some 20 seconds back off the 1km swim, there was no stopping her once out on two wheels, the advantage growing over the 20km bike and then hammered home on the run to finish 40 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Loanne Duvoisin, Alizee Paties of France with bronze.
“That was a great course and this feels like my favourite title of them all so far!” admitted Mairhofer. “When you are up against girls of this talent, you don’t feel any pressure because you know how good they are. But I was really happy with my swim and just felt really good on the bike. My preparations weren’t ideal, i’ve been ill and had a lot of travel, so to pull it together today feels amazing.”
Spain’s Marta Borbon Llorente led teammate Marina Munoz Hernando and Irene Moro Betrian out of the 1km swim a full 20 seconds ahead of Anna Zehnder (SUI) and Mairhofer, another pre-race favourite Duvoisin 40 seconds back as she started the long run towards transition.
Mairhofer then set about destroying the opening kilometres of the lower bike segment, carving out 40 seconds over Alizee Paties (FRA) who had moved her way into second and by now Duvoisin was already up into third but still adrift by over a minute off the front.
Mairhofer was able to maintain 30 seconds over Paties on the descent into transition, and then stretched it out to a minute as she attacked the first segment once again. It was full concentration from then on to not fall foul of the notorious unpredictability of cross courses, and emerging onto the 5km run, the gap was by now enough to know that victory should be hers.
Duvoisin and Paties joined the embrace at the line after nearly two hours of fierce competition, Solenne Bouillon (FRA) crossing in fourth and Munoz completing the top five.
For the full results, click here.
