Jelle Geens Nips Vincent Luis For Abu Dhabi Win
Jelle Geens of Belgium started a rousing comeback after a rough end to his 2021 season with a big win at the World Triathlon Championship Series sprint event at Abu Dhabi.
After missing the Olympic individual race at the Tokyo Olympics due to a COVID-19 positive test, and then breaking his wrist at Montreal, Geens raced past his training partner Vincent Luis of France in the final kilometer at Abu Dhabi for a 5 seconds margin of victory.
Bence Bicsak of Hungary took 3rd in his second series podium, 3 seconds behind Luis and 6 seconds behind 4th place finisher Pierre Le Corre of France.
Race recap
It was an unusual start list for the race, with Germany’s Tim Hellwig wearing number one and with some of the favorites for the podium with quite high numbered bibs. Thus stalwarts like Luis, Hayden Wilde of New Zealand, Geens and Tyler Mislawchuk of Canada were caught in the middle of the pontoon at Yas Marina.
But shortly after the start of the 750-meter swim, Luis found clear water, with Mark Devay of Hungary right on his heels. After a long ramp run to T1, Takumi Hojo and Kenji Nener of Japan, Miguel Hidalgo of Brazil, and Pierre Le Corre of France caught up for a six-man pack starting the bike leg.
With a silky-smooth pavement and tricky curves on the Formula One track, Wilde, Leo Bergere, Geens, and Vasco Vilaca of Portugal lea a breakaway pack, 40 seconds ahead of the chasers. By the end of the bike in brutally hot 31 degrees Celsius weather, the pack grew in size as riders saved energy for the decisive run.
Starting the run, Hayden Wilde of New Zealand went to the front of a small leading group. But due to passport mishaps he missed two flight connections, Wilde arrived at the race site just a few hours before the start. To make matters worse, he suffered a jellyfish sting while warming up.
When top runners like Luis, Geens, Antonio Serrat Seoane and Bence Bicsak saw Wilde trying for a getaway, they pushed hard to join the New Zealander. When Wilde started to fade, Luis and Geens zoomed past at the start of the second and final lap to fight for the win.
With one kilometer to go, the Belgian made a final push on his way to a race-best run split and Luis could not match his training partner.
“I have been training very well and I knew I was in shape,” Gens told World Triathlon media. “I felt quite good during the run but I didn’t want to go to early. Here it can be deadly if you go too early. I knew I could do it so I just had to wait for the moment. The first 500m was taught, I know Vince is fast but I thought that he wouldn’t be able to catch me, so it was just tough mentally and physically, but I made it.”
“I am super happy even finishing second," Vincent Luis told World Triathlon media. “There are two reasons why I am very happy: One is Jelle (Geens) winning, and the second is that I am back in shape. I have been through hell the whole summer, it was a hard time for me, and this is a great way to start the season and finish the year.”
After overcoming an injury after the Olympics, Bicsak was very satisfied with his result. “The 5km on the run were incredibly hard for me,” he told World Triathlon media. “I used my last gear on the bike and it was really tough for me. I went to different hospitals to be treated and I only had three weeks to prepare for this race, so I am extremely happy.”
World Triathlon Championship Series – Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
November 5, 2021
S 750m / B 20k / R 5k
1. Jelle Geens (BELI) S 9:15 T1 00:59 B 26:58 T2 0:22 R 14:44 TOT 52:20
2. Vincent Luis (FRA) S 8:43 T1 1:02 B 27:27 T2 0:22 R 14:49 TOT 52:25
3. Bence Bicsak (HUN) S 9:02 T1 1:01 B 27:07 T2 00:25 R 14:51 TOT 52:28
4. Pierre Le Corre (FRA) S 8:56 T1 1:00 B 27:15 T2 0:21 R 15:00 TOT 52:34
5. Antonio Serrat Seoane (ESP) S 9:17 T1 00:58 B 27:00 T2 0:22 R 14:59 TOT 52:37
6. Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN) S 9:01 T1 1:01 B 27:10 T2 0:24 R 15:04 TOT 52:41
7. Vasco Vilaca (POR) S 9:03 T1 00:58 B 27:09 T2 00:23 R 15:11 TOT
8. Hayden Wilde (NZL) S 9:18 T1 00:58 B 26:56 T2 0:24 R 15:15 TOT 52:54
9. Kenji Nener (JPN) S 8:53 T1 1:02 B 27:16 T2 0:21 R 15:23 TOT 52:58
10. Gabor Faldum (HUN) S 9:13 T1 1:02 B 27:00 T2 0:22 R 15:25 TOT 53:03
24. Morgan Pearson (USA) S 9:04 T1 00:58 B 27:52 T2 00:28 R 15:48 TOT 54:13
