It was another classic Championship Finals day-one sprint finish, this time between Switzerland’s Thibault Rivier and Portugal’s Dinis Ferreira that lit up Pontevedra on Thursday lunchtime, Switzerland’s future star leaving his burst late to eventually take the tape.
Ferreira had gone early after the pair managed to finally shake off Jelle Kaindl of Austria over the final lap, but Rivier, in his final year before graduating to the U23, had enough in the tank to haul himself back level and then beyond his rival.
It was Germany’s Henry Haag and the Spanish duo of Damian Suarez and Jonay Alvarez setting the pace in the swim, the German exiting the 750m swim first but into T1 with his rivals and with a comfortable 20 seconds over the chasers.
Jelle Kaindl was into his task quickly, however, and set about reeling in that trio along with Caleb Wagener and Matej Prochazka, and nine athletes would eventually merge up front.
The margin dropped to 10 seconds and then by halfway and 10km in, there were 34 athletes riding together and eventually pouring into transition as one.
Avoiding the chaos, into the shoes and away cleanly was imperative, and it was Kaindl who flowed perfectly out and away with a slender lead over Wagener and Leni Remer-Mancini (FRA), Rivier also well-placed in sixth, before Henry Haag (GER) forced his way to the front.
The lead seven came together with Dinis Ferreira holding firm, Reuben Wadey (GBR) finding his way into contention having blasted out of T2, Sebastien Ziekman (LUX), Damian Suarez (ESP) also going well.
A burst from Ferreira then split things further, only Kaindl and Rivier able to go with him, but Kaindl would drop as they came back along the river for one last time and it was Ferreira leading Rivier back into the race track segment but Rivier wouldn’t be beaten, clawing back his rival at the death to win the Junior world title at the very last opportunity in more ways than one.
Caleb Wagener crossed for fourth, Wadey in fifth, then Remer-Mancini, Christian Ache, Sebastian Zurob (CHI), Ziekman and USA’s Brice Allen rounding out the top 10.
Thibault Rivier
I cannot believe it feels amazing, all the hard work has paid off. I was confident with my sprint but he attacked early so it was all out to the end. The whole team have done amazing work to prepare for my last outing as a Junior. I tried to not think too much and go hard to the end.
Diniz Ferreira
I didn’t expect too much or know what I had in my legs, I just did the best I could, was ahead for the last 200m but he was too strong. I arrived in transition at the back of the group and had to run my way up, I just couldn’t finish it off.
Jelle Kaindl
I wanted to try a break like my brother in Karlovy Vary but it wasn’t the day and that is sometimes the way in the Juniors. I was prepared but didn’t have the legs against these guys. I wanted to earn a gap because the sprint wouldn’t have worked but I have one more year at this level and I’ll be back.
