Champions and performances of course. But above all smiles, shining eyes and intense emotions. The second day of the Gérardmer Triathlon offered a great show under a bright sun on all the races this Sunday. From the smallest of the Mini TriKids Bol d'Air to the biggest of the Découverte Harmonie Mutuelle and the Olympic Distance Aptonia won by the two Metz members, Maxime Hueber Moosbrugger and Zsanett Bragmayer.
Source: CP
Two years that the triathletes have been waiting for this weekend. Two years that they have been planning to start one of the events of the Gérardmer Triathlon. None were disappointed. To celebrate this 33rd edition with this return of sport, partying and conviviality, the sun had even moved from the first start to the last finish. Happiness for the 4500 enthusiasts who came to the Vosges and for the 20 spectators present all along the courses.
On Sunday, in the Aptonia Olympic Distance Triathlon, Metz Triathlon, which came in force with most of its Division 1 elements the day after the Quiberon Grand Prix, constantly animated the race. French sprint champion last week in Pontivy, Maxime Hueber Moosbrugger added another line to his record. After more than two hours of racing (2h6'10') he is ahead of his teammate Thomas Sayer, already second in 2019. I tried to smooth out my race because the one who wins here is often the one who is the most consistent, he analyzes. I am in good shape at the moment. The stagThe high altitude races we did with Metz allow us to be able to link up well. I knew this triathlon by name and I really wanted to take part. So winning is great." "Maxime is above the rest at the moment," notes Thomas Sayer. "I hung on because this is my home. My friends and family were there. Gérardmer is so beautiful that even after a ten-hour journey back from Quiberon, you can't not come."
Only the Brazilian Reinaldo Colucci, 35 years old, well known in Gérardmer (his two victories in the Triathlon XL de Gérardmer in 2005 and 2006 when he was only 20 years old, had revealed him to the general public) managed to interfere in the fight between Messins. Victim of a puncture and forced to abandon prematurely on Saturday on the XL Je vois la vie en Vosges, the Brazilian was keen to finish his weekend in style. "I was in good shape and had the ambition to win the long distance, he comments. I don't know if I would have won without the puncture because the French were very strong, but I wanted to end my weekend on a good note. I will come back next year to try to win here again."
The Hungarian Zsanett Bragmayer, 12th in the Tokyo Olympic Games, and also licensed in Metz, dominated the women's race (2h28'19'') and succeeds her Metz teammate Jeanne Lehair, winner on Saturday of the SuperG presented by Herbalife and Petit Meunier (see below). Crazy! Crazy! It was crazy, she exclaims. It felt like we were at the Tour de France! It was my first time here but probably not my last. I enjoyed every moment of this race. The bike is tough but great. I'm really happy with my race. After Tokyo, I needed races where I could just have fun. Gérardmer was perfect for that." She is one minute ahead of her teammate from Metz. Pauline Landron. Alexia Bailly complete the podium.
In the Découverte Harmonie Mutuelle, an event marked by the record presence of 45% of women out of the thousand participants, the member of the Tri Val de Gray (Haute-Saône) Nicolas Maillot and the Belgian Zoe Leurs have added their names to the list of winners. At the back of the race, the former iconic basketball player of SLUC Nancy and the French team Cyril Julian came to run alongside two members of a program run as part of his structure “En formes”, a center specialized in the care and sports rehabilitation of obese people. " Mission accomplished, he rejoices. It's great to be able to accompany people on such important personal challenges. And to see that it brings tears at the end when the children come to join their mother, it's good work. I'm happy." Her tears dried, Stephanie confides her happiness. “After everything I’ve been through, it’s amazing to have gotten to this point. I started at double my weight with back problems and other issues. Today, it’s the culmination of a journey that has lasted for over two years. It’s a great experience where you push yourself to the limit. I recommend it to everyone.”
SuperG presented by Herbalife and Petit Meunier: Jeanne Lehair and Sylvain Fridelance, the first in history
What a first! A fiery atmosphere, spectacle, great sport, twists and turns, Saturday, the first edition of the SuperG presented by Herbalife and Petit Meunier, a major new feature of the Gérardmer Triathlon program, enchanted all the participants and spectators present along the course. In a super sprint format, the triathletes at the start, Elites or Espoirs, took on three separate courses of 0,3 km swimming, 4 km cycling (on a 1 km loop) and 1,4 km running (0,7 km loop). With an elimination at the end of each discipline in each round for competitors over 1'30'', there was no respite.
First to set off, the women's race offered a thrilling race. Leading from the first swim, the Australian Emma Jackson (8th in the London Olympics and winner of many international races), left her opponents more than 30 seconds behind for a long time. But a mechanical incident during the final transition allowed Jeanne Lehair to regain command and go and write her name on the first line of the prize list of this SuperG presented by Herbalife and Petit Meunier. "I was a little lucky, admits the member of Metz Triathlon, world and European champion of the mixed relay in 2015. I feel a little sorry for Emma because without her incident she would have won. But that's sport and I took advantage of it even if it's sad for her. I would have preferred to have a real duel with her throughout the race but I managed my first swim badly and the gap was already there.
In the men's category, the Swiss Sylvain Fridelance, used to the WTCS world events, waited until the last rotation to race towards victory. He beat the Luxembourger Bob Haller and German Jonas Osterholt, They are also world-class triathletes. Coming to inaugurate this race format at the Vosges event, the athletes were unanimous. "We absolutely must maintain this race, let go of Sylvain Fridelance. It's hyper spectacular, dynamic with very few moments of respite." "It's a very demanding event, continues Jeanne Lehair. Especially when you dive back in for the second round after having already ridden and raced. You have to be both very fast and have endurance. Even if we have to keep all types of triathlon, this format has a great future because there is always something happening.
The appointment is therefore made for 2022. The results are positive, rejoices Paul Charbonnier, organizer. Following the cancellation of the previous edition, 95% of the runners postponed their registration to this year. This is a great mark of confidence that we are proud of. The runners were loyal, as were the volunteers and partners. It is the combination of all these factors that makes an event successful. The Herbalife and Petit Meunier SuperG was also a success with a great show and a large audience. It should allow us to gain even more notoriety. Even the good weather was part of it!
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