South American battles and final tune-ups ahead of WTCS French Riviera were on the menu over the past weekend and the days leading up to it. In Paraguay, there was a double gold for Team USA, while Team France claimed a double gold of their own in Uzbekistan. Perhaps the biggest statement, however, came from one of this year’s WTCS gold medallists. Find out all that happened in the latest Monday Morning Mix.
Asuncion Junior Pan American Games
Braxton Legg (USA) starred in the men’s race at the Junior Pan American Games, beating out Blake Bullard (USA) and Andree Buc (CHI) in the final chase for gold. Bullard led the sprint distance 750m swim in 10:15. Legg was the next athlete out out, 10 seconds down, with Buc following a further 14 seconds in arrears.
Twelve men joined the lead trio at the head of the race on the bike. Caua Diniz (BRA) rode particularly well on a course that kept the leaders honest, trying his luck and coming away with the fastest split over 20km (27:37). Bullard and Buc, though, regained control on the run, with Legg emerging from T1 a few seconds back.
Legg had already medalled at Americas Cup events against senior fields this year and his composure separated him over the 5km run. A field-leading 14:23 proved too good for his rivals and handed him the win over Bullard by 13 seconds.
A second gold for the American team came through Naomi Ruff (USA) as she overpowered Sidney Clement (CAN) and Julia Visgueiro (BRA) in a successful breakaway. Clement stood atop the swimming charts, logging a split of 10:49 and creating a lead pack of five going into T1. Ruff and Visgueiro were with her while Zoe Adam (PUR) and Rafaela Capo (CHI) completed the breakaway quintet.
The pack was the fastest group on the road, save for a couple of athletes moving up between the various chase packs. By the time they made it to T2, Visgueiro’s 29:44 split was the joint-best of the day and the group’s efforts ensured no one in the chase would threaten the medals. Then, on the run, a 17:02 split by Ruff handed her the win in comfort. Her total time of 59:49 distinguished her as the only woman to finish in under an hour. View the full results here.
Around the world
Earlier in the week, Dorian Coninx and Mathilde Gautier won at the World Military Championships in Uzbekistan. Gautier had enjoyed a successful start to the Samarkand World Cup earlier this year as she escaped off the front as part of a small breakaway. When her breakaway partners crashed out, however, she was forced to complete the bike alone and then fell back on the run. This time, she manufactured a happier ending with a commensurate performance across all three disciplines.
For his part, Coninx’s win showcased several of his best attributes, especially on the run, as he out-classed the field. One interesting point to note is that in the 2023 season, when he became world champion, Coninx did not win a WTCS medal until August. His impressive win therefore indicates a step forward in form that could translate at WTCS French Riviera and beyond.
Meanwhile, the latest supertri round in Chicago attracted a host of athletes that will be racing at WTCS French Riviera next week. Taking 1st place in the men’s and women’s races were Alberto Gonzalez Garcia and Jeanne Lehair, beating out Tyler Mislawchuk and Georgia Taylor-Brown, respectively. Lehair’s win continues a phenomenal season and the speed the WTCS Yokohama winner showed on the run should put several of her French Riviera rivals on notice.