The support of the local crowds was indeed a great boost for the Spanish Para Triathlon National Team, with a total of nine medals (five golds, four bronzes) at the Malaga World Triathlon Para Cup hosted in the Spanish Mediterranean town this weekend. The victories of Susana Rodríguez, Daniel Molina, José Luis García, Eva Maria Moral, Lionel Morales, Louis Noel (FRA), Veronica Yoko Plebani (ITA), Cassie Cava (IRL), Gregoir Berthon (FRA), Hannah MacDougall (AUS), Filipe Marques (POR) and Lauren Steadman (GBR) puts all of them on a great position on the road to the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
PTWC
On the Men’s PTWC class, it was Louis Noel (FRA), the current national champion, who crossed the line in the first place, a victory that puts him provisionally inside the top 9 on the Paralympic rankings that will earn a spot at the Paris 24 paralympic Games. Silver medal was foe Italy’s Giovanni Achenza, bronze medallist at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, while the last spot of the podium was for Spaniard Jose Cristobal Ramos Jimenez, working his way to Paris.
On the women’s PTWC class, victory for the home crowds favourite Eva Maria Moral Pedrero, a victory that mathematically qualifies her for the Games in Paris next summer. Melissa Nichols (GBR) and Mona Francis (FRA) accompanied her on the podium, both of them also working up her rankings significantly.
PTVI
Double gold for Spain on the PTVI class, with José Luis García Serrano and Susana Rodriguez claiming victories. After finishing 9th in the Pontevedra World Championships, the Spaniard is looking forward is second Paralympics, after finishing ahead of Donnacha Mc Carthy (IRL) and Paul Lloveras (FRA).
On the women’s side, Susana Rodriguez didn’t give a chance to the rest of the field despite racing with a different guide than her usual one. Accompanied this time by Sara Perez Sala, the Spaniard crossed the line more than four minutes ahead of Anna Barbaro (ITA), while Judith Maccombe (ITA) finished in the third place.
PTS2
Spain’s Lionel Morales also secured his presence in Paris with a victory in Malaga. His powerful swim (the fastest split on the day) was too much for Maurits Morsink (NED), who was chasing him all day but only managed to finish in the second place. The bronze medal was for Gianluca Valori (ITA).
Veronica Yoko Plebani (ITA) claimed the gold medal on the women’s PTS2 category, just a few seconds ahead of Cecile Saboureau, while Spaniard Rakel Mateo Uriarte claimed the bronze medal.
PTS3
Cassie Cava (IRL) was the only female racing on the PTS3 category. On the men’s race, it was another Spaniard, Daniel Molina, who delighted the local crowds with a victory on home soil that puts him on a solid first place on the Paralympic Qualification rankings, almost guaranteeing his presence in Paris next summer. Nico Van Der Burgt (NED) finished in the second place, while France’s Cedric Denuziere was the third man on the line.
PTS4
With the PTS4 king, Alexis Hanquinquant, not present in Malaga, the field was more open than ever, but it was finally another Frenchman, Gregoire Berthon, who crossed the finish line in third, giving the French National Federation a headache when it comes to selecting the Paralympic team in this class, with three Frenchmen actually qualified but a quota limit of two per country. Liam Towmey (AUS) and Finley Jakes (GBR) completed the podium on the day.
On the women’s race, it was one of the newcomers in the sport, Australia’s Hannah MacDougall, claiming the victory, crossing the finish line almost two minutes ahead of Camille Seneclauze (FRA). The bronze medal was for Spain’s Carmen Gonzalez Sanchez.
PTS5
Portugal’s Filipe Marques continued his Golden strike on the PTS5 class, claiming gold in Malaga just a couple of weeks after finishing in the first place in Alhandra. Bence Morcari (HUN) and Ugurcan Ozer (TUR) completed the podium in the category that saw more athletes competing, and a total of 11 nationalities on the start line.
On the women’s class, Tokyo 2020 paralympic champion Lauren Steadman showed that she is back in form, taking the victory with almost five minutes of a gap with the second on the line, Gwladys Lemoussu (FRA). The bronze medal was for another Spaniard, Andrea Miguelez Ranz, who managed to keep Poland’s Marta Dzieciątkowska.