A sell-out field of over 2,000 athletes lined up at Challenge Vieux-Boucau today in a thrilling race that delivered victories for Guillem Montiel (ESP), current European Champion, and Audrey Merle (FRA) who took her maiden professional middle distance win.
Montiel led out of the water in 23:08, with a chase group of Estaban Bringer (FRA), Emil Holm (DEN), William Even (FRA) and Tom Davies (GBR) all within 10 seconds of him. The top 15 men all headed out onto the bike within seconds of each other, led by Montiel. But with the Challenge 20m drafting rule in force, the large lead pack was soon spread out. After the first 20km, Holm had taken the lead but was only 20 seconds in front of the now 19-man chase pack. By the halfway point, Holm was maintaining his narrow lead, but behind him the chase pack had broken apart. Now it was just three chasing him, led by Lorenz with Mikel Arrasate (ESP) and Hannes Butters (GER) who had ridden up the field from 24th out of the water to fourth. Another splinter group of seven, led by Davies, was just under a minute further back. In the final 10km, Montiel made his move, riding up into the lead putting over a minute into Holm who in turn was caught by Butters. By the time Montiel reached T2, he had 2:50 lead over Holm, Butters, Arrasate and Lorenz who all arrived together.
Soon it became a battle between Montiel and Arrasate, but even closer was the fight for the final podium spot between Julian Hagen (FRA) and Quentin Barreau (FRA) who ran neck and neck throughout the run until the final lap when Hagen started to pull away, closing on Arrasate. 1km into the final lap and Hagen had moved into second place, and at the 18km mark, Emmanuel Lejeune (BEL), who had quietly been moving up the field from 22nd off the bike was in third. By the time they reached the finish line it was all change again. Montiel took the win in 3:37:23 while Lejeune took second with a 1:06:39 run split in 3:40:47 with Hagen rounding out the podium in 3:41:29.
In the women’s race, there was nothing between Merle and Babette Rosman (NED) who exited the water with just a second between them in 24:58/59 with Abigail Bedwell (GBR) half a minute down in third. Out on the bike and Dutch Olympic Distance Champion, Rosman, took control slowly eking out a lead over Merle with Alexia Bailly (FRA), Eva Cornelisse (NED) and Brooke Gillies (GBR) chasing. By the 70km mark, Rosman had increased her lead to over two minutes, continuing to build, coming into T2 just under four minutes ahead of Solene Billouin (FRA) who had ridden up into second, just seconds ahead of local favourites, Bailly and Merle.
Onto the run and Rosman continued to hold her lead, although it was being slowly eroded by Merle who had reclaimed her second place. By the halfway point the gap was down to 1:33 and with 5km to go, Merle made her move taking the lead from Rosman who had led from the gun. She crossed the line to take her first middle distance win in 4:09:56, just seven months after becoming a mother! Rosman took second in 4:11:17 with Eloise Du Luart (FRA) finishing in third in 4:14:29.
For full results, visit https://pyreneeschrono.wiclax-results.com/Challenge-Vieux-Boucau-2025/.
