Sunday’s Challenge Gdańsk 2023 in Poland saw a home victory – his second in a week – for home favourite, Kacper Stepniak. That was highlighted by another dominating bike split in the Pro Men’s race.
There was no Polish double however, as Germany’s Anne Reischmann, took top spot ahead of Agnieszka Jerzyk for the Pro Women. You can read how the race played out in our report from the day.
Following up on that roundup – and with great thanks to regular contributor José Luis Hourcade (www.joseluishourcade.com) – we can now bring you the story of the race in pictures too.
Challenge Gdańsk Gallery 2023
Having won last weekend in Geraardsbergen, could Menno Koolhaas (NED) win again?The Pro Men hit the water at the city beachPro Women start their dayThe Age-Group field look out to Gdansk Brzeźno PierThe lead men return to the beachBrits Rosie Weston and Megan McDonald dominated the swimStadion Gdańsk provides an impressive backdropMegan McDonald leads early in the bike sectionItalian veteran, Domenico Passuello, still racing Pro at 45Winner last week in Warsaw, Kacper Stepniak was going for back-to-back wins on home soilAfter leading the swim, Rosie Weston went on the finish eighthIn living colour! Home favourite Agnieszka JerzykWell back after the swim, Germany’s Anne Reischmann powered through on the bikeMarcel Bolbat (GER) got back into podium contention with a strong bike performanceKoolhaas pushing hard in his third middle distance race in as many weeksIt was all going well for Kacper Stepniak, who dropped the field on the bikeAnother European outing for Australia’s Nicholas FreeOgnjen Stojanovic (SRB) on track for another second place, matching Geraardsbergen last weekJerzyk would reach T2 in second, around a minute back on ReischmannDespite a 5+ minute lead off the bike, it wouldn’t be an easy cruise home for StepniakAfter dropping Koolhaas, Bolbat and Stojanovic would battle for second and third right to the finish lineSecond off the bike and second at the finish for Agnieszka JerzykFifth place for Great Britain’s Megan McDonaldDaniela Kleiser (GER), as she regularly does, blitzed the run to reach the podium and almost catch JerzykFourth today for Menno KoolhaasReischmann in control on the run on the way to victoryFinish line celebrationsAnne Reischmann wins Challenge Gdansk 2023Kacper Stepniak, Ognjan Stojanovic and Marcel Bolbat are the 1-2-3 in PolandAll smiles for the Pro Women’s podium of Anne Reischmann, Agnieszka Jerzyk and Daniela Kleiser
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
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