Calm and cool conditions met the record field of athletes at this weekend’s Challenge Vieux Boucau. After a fierce battle on the bike, Pierre Dupuy took the win in 3:32:41 while in the women’s race, the battle on the run ended in Carolin Meyer’s favour, taking her first professional middle distance victory in 4:07:19.
Local race favourite, Pierre Dupuy, led the out the water in 23:01 with Gaspard Tharreau (FRA) right behind him, heading a large chase group, that also included Joshua Lewis (GBR) 18 seconds back. By the early stages of the bike, Lewis had overtaken Dupuy to take the lead while behind them was a chase group of eight led by Maximilian Sperl (GER). Dupuy was not content with second and pushed hard at speeds of over 50kph to catch Lewis at around 60km but the battle was far from over. For the next 20km the two played a game of cat and mouse, repeatedly overtaking each other but also respecting the race and staying outside of the Challenge Family 20m draft zone. Dupuy’s frustration was clear to see. Ultimately, Dupuy won the battle of the bike, coming into T2 a few seconds ahead and out onto the run in first.
He quickly extended the gap between himself and Lewis and it soon became clear why at the beginning of the second lap when Lewis DNF’d. This gave Dupuy a clear four-minute lead over Quentin Barreau (FRA) who now moved up into second with Enzo Bourdon (FRA) a further minute and a half down in third. From this point on it was Dupuy’s race to lose. Barreau constantly chipped away at Dupuy’s lead but it was just too great. Dupuy took his second win in a month in front of an enthusiastic French crowd in 3:32:41, followed by Barreau in 3:34:52 after managing to effectively halve the gap, with Bourdon in third in 3:36:02, rounding out the all-French podium.
“I’m very happy with my race,” said Dupuy at the finish line. “I went hard on the bike and I was very happy with the run after this hard bike, my run was strong and it was amazing to take the win in front of a home crowd. The spectators were amazing and pushed me to take the win.”
In the women’s race, Jasmine Holmes (GBR) exited the water in the lead in 26:53 with Juliette Lucet (FRA) and Eva Marsac (FRA) within a couple of seconds.
Holmes was first out on the bike but Lucet soon took the lead while behind them Meyer was riding up the field after exiting the swim nearly two minutes behind the front of the field. By 40km Meyer had taken the lead and she and Lucet consistently put time between them and rest of the field taking turns in the lead. In the final stages, Lucet tried to break away but ultimately only managed to come into T2 with just five seconds over Meyer. Meanwhile behind them, while Eloise de Luart (FRA) and Sofia Aguayo (FRA) had been battling it out for third for most of the bike, behind them Minttu Hukka (FIN) was powering up the field from ninth out of the water to come in third off the bike 5:30 down on Lucet.
Out on the run and Lucet held off Meyer with a consistent 10 second gap for the first of the four laps but by the middle of the second lap they were running together. Laps three and four saw Meyer at the front, gradually extending her lead before taking her first professional title in 4:07:19. Lucet was second in 4:08:38 while Hukka took third in 4:09:22.
After her race, Meyer said, “It was a really good race everything went very well. I had a good swim in the second group and then I caught up with Juliette on the bike, and then it was a run battle. The bike was super fast and I really liked it. And when we were running shoulder to shoulder I stayed with myself and just did my pace and I’m so happy that it paid off.”
Challenge Vieux Boucau takes place on France’s wild west coast, surrounded by sand dunes, endless beaches, and a stunning inland marine lake. The wave-free swim, fast and varied course, and scenic run through pine forests create an idyllic race experience that perfectly blends nature and performance. Set in a lively seaside resort where surf culture meets triathlon, the race sells out each year with over 3,200 athletes and offers a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere and a truly unforgettable coastal triathlon.
For further information visit www.challenge-vieuxboucau and for full results go to https://pyreneeschrono.wiclax-results.com/Challenge-Vieux-Boucau-2026/