The salty air of the Bretagwas a perfect success for the Poissy Triathlon athletes this Saturday in Quiberon. Winner of the 4th stage of the Triathlon Grand Prix for both men and women, the Yvelines club took a big step towards winning a new double title of French club champion. However, the Parisian team triumphed without winning a single individual victory. It was, in fact, Jelle Geens from Liévin and Alberte Kjaer Pedersen from Gray who tasted the joys of the highest step of the podium. The two races were contested under the sun with ideal temperatures and a little wind. The event was masterfully organized by Quiberon Triathlon.
Source: CP
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D1 MEN: POISSY TRIATHLON FINDS ITS YELLOW JERSEY
Contrary to usual, it is the men who open the ball.
Leader with a two-point lead, Metz Triathlon is not very sure about the starting line due to the absence of many key players (Morlec, Servais, Hueber-Moosbrugger, Guerbeur). Its direct pursuers, Poissy Triathlon and the Triathlon Club Liévin, are, on the other hand, much more confident, despite the respective absences of Jawad Abdelmoula and Hayden Wilde.
The proposed line-up is of high quality with the presence in particular of the three representatives of the Army of Champions, authors of a hat-trick during the individual European championship in Munich, Léo Bergère, Pierre Le Corre (also Long Distance world champion) and Dorian Coninx.
Unsurprisingly, this trio found themselves among the first to exit the water, however, beaten by the young junior from Saint-Jean-de-Monts, Léo Ouabdesselam.
As for the favourites, the good surprise came from Jelle Geens (Triathlon Club Liévin) who only conceded eleven seconds to the leader of the race. The Belgian therefore finds himself thrown into the leading group which includes around thirty units. Not included in this group are Copeland and Knabl (Triathlon Club Liévin), Pereira and Bishop (Saint-Jean-de-Monts Vendée Triathlon) and Viain (Les Sables Vendée Triathlon).
The chasing pack does not panic and catches up on the 2nd lap. There are now 6 of them at the head of the race.
The end of the bike ride was marked by an attack by Robin Moussel (Evreux AC) who kept a lead of around ten seconds on his return to the bike park.
Louis Vitiello nevertheless managed to set off first on the walking course, made up of two 2,5 km loops. The Montois was quickly joined by a trio: his teammate Léo Bergère, Jelle Geens and the British Barclay Izzard (Poissy Triathlon).
At the start of the last kilometre, there were only two left in a position to aim for victory: Jelle Geens and Léo Bergère. A better sprinter than the Frenchman, the Belgian took the victory thanks to a lightning acceleration. The podium was completed by the tireless Pierre Le Corre, who returned from Diable Vauvert.
It was necessary to get out the abacus to find out the identity of the winner among the clubs. Although endowed with the same number of points as Saint-Jean-de-Monts, Poissy Triathlon won thanks to the best ranking obtained by its third man (11th place for Antoine Duval, 14th place for Joao Pereira).
The podium is completed by Sables Vendée, which is five points ahead of Triathlon Club Liévin.
In the general classification, Poissy Triathlon takes the yellow jersey from Metz Triathlon, only 16th today and which drops back to 4th place.
Their first runner-up, seven points behind, is now the Triathlon Club Liévin. Third, Les Sables Vendée is 12 points behind the leader.
Even though a coefficient of 1,5 will be applied to the points of the last round in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, the yellow and blue have taken a big step towards the title.
D1 WOMEN: IT’S (ALMOST) IN THE BAG FOR POISSY
At the start of this 4th stage, the first three teams in the general classification each had a lack of a mark to deplore (Léonie Périault for Poissy Triathlon, Jeanne Lehair for Metz Triathlon and Mathilde Gautier for the Tri Val de Gray).
On the other hand, the double medallist of the European Championship in Munich (bronze in individual and gold in mixed relay), Emma Lombardi is well present in the starting box of the Vals Dauphiné Olympic. She made a name for herself from the start by being the first to leave the Atlantic Ocean ahead of Lola Bachet (Saint-Avertin Sports Triathlon 37) and Léa Coninx (Poissy Triathlon). This trio is present in the breakaway group of 28 competitors that quickly forms. All the favorites are there except the Hungarian Zsanett Bragmayer (Metz Triathlon) and Célia Merle (Issy Triathlon).
The chasers will no longer be able to play an active role in the race.
As no competitor has been able to deceive the vigilance of the leading pack, everything will be decided on foot.
A trio will quickly gain ground on all their rivals. It is made up of Emma Lombardi, Sandra Dodet (Poissy Triathlon) and Alberte Kjaer Pedersen (Tri Val de Gray).
The last word will go to the Danish. Silver is won by Sandra Dodet and bronze by Emma Lombardi.
As in the men's event, the fight for team victory was very close. By a small point, it was finally Poissy Triathlon that took the prize to the detriment of Issy Triathlon, which nevertheless placed three representatives in the Top 10. Tri Val de Gray completed the podium.
Poissy Triathlon is soaring in the general ranking. The Parisian club now has a 17-point lead over Metz Triathlon, only 9th today. The Lorraine team is now threatened by Tri Val de Gray, which has come back to within three points.
Fourth, 5 points behind second, Issy Triathlon can still dream of a vice-champion title.
Good deal also for the Triathlon Club Liévin, which gained 3 ranks to find itself in 5th place.
Apart from the title, the fight for the places of honour promises to be intense in the final in Saint-Jean-de-Monts next week.
The morning D2 rounds were won by the women of Lys Calais Triathlon and the men of Mach 3. The overall leaders are Lys Calais Triathlon (women) and La Rochelle Triathlon (men).
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