NEWS

Franco Pesavento blows away rivals to secure Winter Triathlon world title

By doug.gray@triathlon.org | 24 Feb, 2024
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Italy’s Franco Pesavento secured an outstanding second winter world triathlon title on Saturday in the mountain of Pragelato, making a bold breakaway early on the first run segment that he was able to stick for the duration of the race.

It was a case of revenge for the previous day’s duathlon defeat at the hands of Norway’s defending champion Hans Christian Tungesvik, who couldn’t match the impressive run-bike speed of his rival over the first half of the race, leaving too much ground to make up over the ski. Tungesvik was locked in a battle for silver with master of the mountain bike Marek Rauchfuss, before pulling clear over the final kilometres, the Czech scoring his sixth podium in the competition.

“That was tough,” admitted Pesavento, “but I just tried to push on the climbs and was able to stay clear. It feels great to win, especially here in Italy. The organisers have done such a great job to hold this race and I want to thank my team. I knew I had to put the pace on from the start and it was enough to win the gold.”


There was no doubt as to Italy’s 2022 World Champion’s intentions as he put the hammer down from the start horn and threw caution to the wind in establishing a commanding 30 second lead after just two 2km run laps.

It was an important margin, too, Rauchfuss immediately reeling him in on the first mountain bike, Italian Alessandro Saravelle also going well with teammate Giuseppe Lamastra, Tungesvik dropping another 30 seconds back from the leader.

Once into his favoured skis, however, it wasn’t long before defending champion was slicing through the field, but even as he closed in on second he could only claw 40 seconds back from the leader.

At the end of the second run it was Pesavento under the bridge first and into transition then out onto his bike with a healthy 40 second lead over Tungesvik, who himself now had the same margin over Rauchfuss and a minute over Lamastra and Romania’s Viorel Palici.

Rauchfuss was attacking hard to close the gap to Tungesvik and eventually passed him on lap two, but both were still a full minute off Pesavento who was into his skis and away as his rivals entered transition.

A swift T2 and Tungesvik was out with Rauchfuss, both giving chase but, with 65seconds to make up over the final 6km ski, it quickly looked like an impossible task. The Norwegian pulled 10 seconds out after first climb and descent, 10 more on the flat but he could do no more to catch the flying Italian as he soared down the final straight and took his flag and the tape by 35 seconds.

A smiling Tungesvik crossed for silver a full 90 seconds ahead of Rauchfuss in third, Lamastra another minute back in fourth, Palici fifth.

For full results click here.

Related Event: 2024 World Triathlon Winter Championships Pragelato - Sestriere
24 - Feb, 2024 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Men
1. Franco Pesavento ITA 01:33:51
2. Hans Christian Tungesvik NOR 01:34:16
3. Marek Rauchfuss CZE 01:35:41
4. Giuseppe Lamastra ITA 01:36:45
5. Viorel Palici ROU 01:37:16
6. Sebastian Neef GER 01:38:15
7. Alessandro Saravalle ITA 01:38:48
8. Mario Kosut SVK 01:39:59
9. Casper Rønning NOR 01:41:28
10. Guglielmo Giuliano ITA 01:42:17
Results: Elite Women
1. Sandra Mairhofer ITA 01:50:32
2. Aneta Grabmuller Soldati CZE 01:52:14
3. Julie Meinicke NOR 01:58:30
4. Stina Meinicke NOR 01:59:30
5. Kristina Lapinova SVK 01:59:37
6. Bianca Morvillo ITA 02:00:57
7. Ine Skjellum NOR 02:02:49
8. Margareta Bicanova SVK 02:04:27
9. Lorena Erl GER 02:06:48
10. Elisa Sordello ITA 02:14:51
Results: U23 Men
1. Casper Rønning NOR 01:41:28
2. Guglielmo Giuliano ITA 01:42:17
3. Sebastian Davare ITA 01:50:03
4. Iosu Mujika Dumall ESP 01:55:50
DNF. Carlos Andres Mejía Gallego AND DNF
Results: U23 Women
1. Julie Meinicke NOR 01:58:30
2. Margareta Bicanova SVK 02:04:27
DNF. Maddalena Soma' ITA DNF
Results: 2x2 Mixed Relay
1. Team I Italy ITA 01:00:01
2. Team I Czech Republic CZE 01:00:54
3. Team I Norway NOR 01:02:10
4. Team I Slovakia SVK 01:03:51
5. Team I Germany GER 01:05:04
6. Team I Romania ROU 01:06:09
NC. Team II Norway NOR 01:03:47
NC. Team II Italy ITA 01:04:33
NC. Team II Slovakia SVK 01:14:37
Results: Junior Men
1. Jakub Miklencic SVK 00:56:38
2. Diego Lampe ITA 00:57:01
3. Max Grün AUT 00:57:50
4. Linus Hilfiker SUI 00:58:51
5. Kert Pallo EST 01:04:04
DNF. Riccardo Giuliano ITA DNF