MADRID, 23 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish triathlete David Castro has hung the gold in the first test of the World Cup season, which has been held in Napier (New Zealand), while his compatriot Roberto Sánchez Mantecón has touched the podium at the end in fourth .
The Manchego, trained by Javier Gómez Noya and who faced his first competition since May 2024, won his rivals in the final sprint of the race on foot and took the victory, with a time of 50:29, ahead of The Australians Brayden Mercer (50:31) and Callum McClushy (50:32). Sánchez Mantecón entered a fourth with a time of 50:36.
Mercer led the swimming section on the way to the cycling tour, where four groups were formed from the beginning. In the Ecuador of the sector, the groups gathered, although 30 participants managed to stay in front to face the race on foot.
Ahead, 5 kilometers, in which the Spaniards entered third and fourth. A group of ten runners who Castro and Sánchez Mantecón were formed then managed to reduce by half with the passage of the laps; Both were giving relief in the head.
In the absence of 400 meters from the goal, Mercer took command, but the Manchego did not allow him to escape and, with a great sprint, he took the victory. “I am very excited, last year it was very hard for me. I was injured and did not compete for nine months. Now, start of the season, new coach … I can’t believe that the year has started with a victory here,” he said after The test.
“Javi (Gómez Noya) told me ‘you have a lot The output list and the year of birth of all participants, I am the grandfather, I feel like Peter Pan, “he joked.