French National Triathlon Championship S distance: a day of glory for Kristelle Congi and Thomas Sayer

Kristelle Congi and Thomas Sayer had a great day on Saturday in Pontivy. The Pisciacais and Messin athletes had the chance to wear their first blue, white, and red jersey at a French Triathlon Championship (S distance: 750 m swim – 20 km bike – 5 km run). While they benefited from the absence of French national team athletes, as Thomas Sayer said at the finish: “the absent are always wrong.” Both of them, moreover, did not steal their victory, making the difference during the run.

Source: Press Release

The races took place under beautiful sunshine despite a persistent threat of thunderstorms. It was the women who opened hostilities at 1:15 PM. Despite the absence of Cassandre Beaugrand, Léonie Périault, and Léa Coninx, Poissy Triathlon seemed to hold the keys to the race with the presence of Candice Denizot and Kristelle Congi.

Present at the forefront from the swim, which was completed in wetsuits, the two Pisciacais athletes managed to break away early in the bike leg. They were not seen again by their rivals, reaching T2 with a substantial lead of about forty seconds.

The teammates would therefore compete for the title fairly on the 5km run. But the outcome of the duel was quickly known. Fresher, Kristelle Congi quickly gained the upper hand over Candice Denizot, cruising to an easy victory. The victory of the 28-year-old Pisciacais is all the more meritorious as she had taken a one-year break from her sport last year due to maternity leave.

While Candice Denizot easily secured silver, bronze went to Charlotte Faivre (Groupe Triathlon Vesoul Haute-Saône). The two former teammates were also on the U23 podium, alongside another Vesulienne, Lena Vaillier François.

In the men’s race, despite the last-minute withdrawals of Aurélien Raphaël and Antoine Duval, the Poissy Triathlon management seemed calm a few minutes before the start, around 5 PM. Recent European bronze medalist, Anthony Pujades, indeed seemed a cut above his rivals.

Confidence remained high after the swim: their leader was at the front alongside Romain Hallé and Aurélien Jem (Tri Val de Gray), Mattéo Bringer (Montluçon Triathlon), and Antoine Vottier (Poissy Triathlon). But their serenity would not last long. Just a few kilometers into the bike leg, on the giant screen installed at the finish site, spectators witnessed a rider in a blue and yellow jersey fall. It was Anthony Pujades. Fortunately, he quickly got back up. But the race was over for the big favorite. The competition thus became more open than ever.

And it was a lone man who finally reached the transition area in the lead. In the final kilometers, Casimir Moine managed to elude the vigilance of the lead group. And the Messin had built up a good lead of 40 seconds. For many observers, given the leader’s form in recent weeks (victory at the FrenchMan in Carcans Maubuisson on May 26), the victory seemed assured. But they were wrong. At the end of the first of the two running loops, Casimir Moine had Thomas Sayer (Metz Triathlon) and Aurélien Jem practically on his heels. The junction was made a few hectometers later.

It was ultimately Thomas Sayer who delivered the decisive blow to his rivals a few strides from the finish. The Messin could share his joy with the large crowd in the final straight. This was his fifth blue, white, and red jersey, after the four he had won in aquathlon.

Silver went to Aurélien Jem and bronze to the courageous Casimir Moine, who narrowly resisted the return of Hugo Winock from Liévin. These two boys would also take the top two spots on the U23 podium. The podium was completed by Arnaud Des Boscs (Sainte-Geneviève).

Between these two competitions, spectators witnessed a superb head-to-head in the Masters category between Manuel Roux (Besançon Triathlon), who is none other than Candice Denizot’s coach, and Cédric Hervio (Pays d’Auray). The Bisontin ultimately prevailed, clearly dominating on the run.

Rankings (women):

Find the complete results at the link HERE

Find the complete results at the link HERE