Lucy Charles, Javier Gomez win Polar Cannes International Triathlon

Flat tyre can’t stop Lucy Charles taking the win at Cannes International Triathlon

Javier Gomez cruises to 12 minutes winning margin on the French Riviera

In the weekend preview, I did say, of the headline entry names of Gomez and Charles, “I’m not 100% sure who else is racing –  but that’s not going to stop me making them the race favourites too!” That proved to be correct – but not without a little drama along the way.

First out of the swim for the women – as if it was ever going to be anything else – Charles’ day started to get a little more complex around the 8km mark with a puncture. Here is the full story from Lucy herself…

Winner of the Polar Cannes International Triathlon 2018 🏆 Today played out very differently to what I had anticipated. At 8km into the bike course I got a puncture & had no spares. I thought it was race over until a kind man helped me do the repair (I definitely owe him a beer!🍻). Unfortunately with only a hand pump I didn't quite get enough air in the tube. Thankfully at the 25km mark another kind man lent me a gas canister & I was good to go again! (I also owe him a beer! 🍻) By this point I must have lost quite a bit of time & was back in 4th position, but I wanted to see the course & get a good training day. I biked my socks off and got to T2 just in the lead, praying I would have some run legs. Luckily my legs played ball & I ran home to take the win! 🎉 Thank you for all the support out here & online. Thank you @cannes_triathlon for a really Epic race! 🏊‍♀️🚴🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️🏁 #WinnerWinnerChickenDinner #swimbikerun #girlpower #womeninsport #strongwomen #triathlon #teamoakley #givesyouwings #runlikeagirl #lovemyjob #teamcharlesbarclay

A post shared by Lucy Charles (@lucycharles93) on Apr 29, 2018 at 7:29am PDT

For the reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion – in preparations for his full distance debut at IRONMAN Cairns – he came out of the opening 2km swim a few seconds behind Robin Pasteur (FRA), but with a swift transition he was soon into the lead.

He was caught on the bike by Sam Laidlaw (FRA), but the young Frenchman would suffer a broken chain. Remarkably, he picked up his bike and ran with it. If the results are to be believed, he must have run a long way… as it would appear that he still finished!

No pressure on Javier then – and if there was, a 51:23 run split for the closing 16km run would have eliminated it anyway. He was in a different league today, reflected in a 12 minute winning margin.

Polar Canners International Triathlon – Sunday 29th April 2018
2km / 107km / 16km

MEN

1st – Javier Gomez (ESP) – 4:27:12
2nd – Kevin Maurel (FRA) – 4:39:22
3rd – Malte Plappert (GER) – 4:40:24

WOMEN

1st – Lucy Charles (GBR) – 5:14:06
2nd – Johanna Duamas (FRA) – 5:16:56
3rd – Marion Gay-Pagion (FRA) – 5:24:14