Laidlow and Haug, unbeatable in the Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria

 

He said he had unfinished business with Gran Canaria and he's finally settled it. French triathlete Sam Laidlow put on a thrilling performance against several of the world's best triathletes, battling until the very last minute to determine the podium. German Anne Haug was unchallenged at the Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria, leading the race from start to finish and proving unbeatable.

 

 

The Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria has brought together on the island the champions of champions, the elite of world triathlon, with four of the 12 best men in the PTO ranking. Tough and demanding, the Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria route crowned Sam Laidlow (3.40.27) and Anne Haug (4.05.38) as the middle distance leaders, opening the 2023 international season with the best taste in their mouths. 

 

 

Sam Laidlow, who was aiming to get on the podium in 2021 alongside Jan Frodeno, saw his climb cut short by a bike crash, and today he has resolved his debt with the island. The Frenchman had a tough battle against Mathis Margirier (3.40.40) and Aaron Royle (3.41.40), while Anne Haug was accompanied on the podium by Diede Diederiks (4.17-52) in second position and Megan McDonald in third (4.18.34 .XNUMX. XNUMX). 

 

The swimming was setting the first times, with Aaron Royle leading as expected with an impressive 23:18, although only two seconds ahead of Magnus Männer. Alessandro Fabian, Patrick Lange, Sam Laidlow and Jan Stratman started together just half a minute from the head of the race, which was already a guarantee of an impressive cycling circuit in which Royle, Stratmann, Laidlow and Margirier firmly won.

 

In T2, the change from bike to run, they already had a five-minute advantage over the peloton and the running circuit became decisive. 

 

The Anfi Challenge Mogán Gran Canaria has experienced one of the most exciting races of the season, between four triathlon titans. After a demanding bicycle circuit, the foot race was the key to the title, under the blue sky of Anfi del Mar and a heat that tightened the challenge even more. Royle showed his prowess in the run, but Laidlow managed to catch him at kilometer 7 with his French compatriot Magirier hot on his heels. The last kilometers were an epic battle between the two Frenchmen, who finally went for Laidlow. “It's time to win,” he exclaimed at the finish line. 

 

 

"It was hard," Laidlow confessed. "I felt terrible in the swim and on the bike, with a lot of cramps. It's complicated when it's the first race of the season. I'm very proud, I told myself that I had to run aggressively and I'm very happy." As it has detailed, "Mathis has put a lot of pressure on me today, we have known each other since we were children. Thanks to him and Jan Stratmann we have escaped." 

 

Although Anne Haug had two failed attempts to compete in Gran Canaria, the third time was the charm and this time there would be no other queen than her. Although Caroline Pohle was the fastest in the swim with 26:22, after 30 minutes of pedaling, Haug had already caught up with her and took the lead. From that moment on she had no rival, extending her lead to over four minutes in T2. Although Ruth Astle followed closely behind for a while, Haug took a solid victory, followed by Diede Diederiks and Megan McDonald. 

 

 

"A race is a race and you always have to do a good job," said Haug. "My swim was good, I tried to stay close to Caroline and tried my best, the bike was also hard and difficult," although "the run was great" and that made the difference. "You run next to the beach, the "The public was incredible and supportive all the way. I am very happy," she confessed.

 

Balli and Pérez Almeida, leaders of the short distance
 

The short distance race was dominated from start to finish by Canarian athletes, with Karim Balli leading the way with a time of 2:29:59, crowning him champion. Local triathlete Willy García also delivered a strong performance, finishing just a few seconds behind the leader with a time of 2:30:28. Aníbal Romay rounded out the short distance race in third place, stopping the clock at 2:42:37.

 

In the women's race, Lucía Pérez Almeida was the clear winner, maintaining a solid and consistent lead throughout. Applauded by the thousands of fans who lined the course, Pérez Almeida had already built an eight-minute advantage over her rival during the swim, which allowed her to hold onto the lead until the finish. She was joined on the podium by Marta Keller (3:03:09) and Elisabeth Solero (3:06:08).