It was another golden day for German triathlon in 2023 as Simon Henseleit powered home to take the U23 World Championship title in Pontevedra on Saturday afternoon. Part of his country’s victorious Mixed Relay World Championship team in Hamburg, the 23-year-old was in full flow for the 40km bike and then eased his way into the 4-lap run, holding off a relentless challenge from Baptiste Passemard of France and Netherlands’ Mitch Kolkman.
“I raced the World Cup here last year so I knew what to expect,” said a delighted Henseleit. “The course wasn’t too technical, but some narrow sections made the course tough. In the end, it came down to a run showdown and I was happy I had the legs. I had my chance in Paris at the Test Event and got absolutely smashed in the swim so this was my main priority - to be in the first pack. It worked out perfectly with contact to the leaders, it was an all out run race and I was the strongest today.”
Alessio Crocciani and Jamie Riddle led the field out of the swim, Hungarian duo Gergo Dobi and Gergely Kiss right with him, Henseleit also well set, Italy’s Nicolo Strada some losing time heading out on to 40km bike.
Esteban Basanta Fouz missed his bike in T1 but was able to still catch on the front pack of 16 along with the likes of last year’s bronze medallist Hamish Reilly and Henry Graf.
At the halfway point the lead group was up to 25 athletes, with 22 in the chase pack, but Spanish hopes were dashed as Esteban was penalised for cutting the course and ultimately faced a DSQ.
As the bikes were racked and the second transition negotiated, it was the Frenchman Baptiste Passemard out first pursued by Graf and Henseleit, Riddle, Dixon and Panagiotis Bitados (GRE) right there with 10km to go.
Jan Bader first of the chase group out but his chances and those behind him looking very slim. Mitch Kolmann (NED) took to the front through the old town, Basanta right there as Passemard dropped back.
Henseleit, Kolkman and Basanta had a small lead at the end of lap one, Graf and Dixon chasing hard, but it was the 2023 Mixed Relay World Champion Henseleit who found the reserves to pull away on lap three and soar to the gold, Passemard holding on for the silver and Kolkmann with an emotional bronze. Bitados took fourth ahead of Dixon in fifth.
Full results available here.
