Search
shop

Bergere heads French podium sweep at European Championships Munich

There was no stopping Team France on Saturday in Germany at the European Championships 2022 Munich
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Allez Les Bleus! It was all about France on Saturday at the Elite Men’s race at the European Triathlon Championships in Munich.

A fast swim split the field, a breakaway on the bike could not be caught – and then it was Leo Bergere who lead the way home.

Devay forces a breakaway

Another picture perfect day in Munich’s Olympiapark welcomed the Elite Men of the 2022 European Championships. Could they match the excitement that the Elite Women delivered on Friday?

Hungary’s Mark Devay was soon to the front of the non-wetsuit swim and the pace was clearly seriously quick from the start. Even after 750m the field was split, and along with teammate Csongor Lehman – the 2021 U23 World Champion – team Hungary pushed on strongly and led into T2.

They had Tim Hellwig (GER), Dorian Coninx (GBR), Alois Knabl (AUT), Jonas Schomburg (GER), Nicola Azzano (ITA) and Miguel Tiago Silva (POR) within 11 seconds. Two more top French athletes, Pierre Le Corre and Leo Bergere, were also seemingly set to be part of any early bike breakaway.

Quality athletes including Jelle Geens (BEL), Mario Mola (ESP) and Richard Murray (NED) were already a minute back, with the quintet of British athletes also going to have to chase hard to get back towards the head of affairs.

And then there were 12

After that tough swim, the front pack on the bike comprised of 12 athletes who at the end of lap two (of eight), had built themselves an advantage of 50 seconds. The leading dozen comprised of Bergere, Coninx, Le Corre (France) Hellwig and Schomburg (Germany), Knabl (Austria), Lehmann and Devay (Hungary), Simon Westermann (Switzerland), Tiago Silva and Joao Pereira (Portugal) and Azzano (Italy).

As the chasing groups behind merged, more than 30 athletes were together at the halfway mark on the bike, but still 54 seconds on what was a top quality breakaway.

The leading 12 were riding well, and the gaps were barely changing. A few seconds up and down, but with several WTCS winners, European and World Champions in that top quality dozen, the large chase group were hardly making a dent on their deficit. For fast runners like Geens, his efforts on the front of the chase group were reflective of the danger he knew was a minute or so up the road.

As with the women’s race yesterday, the chasers did make up time on the final lap – but would still start the run 45 seconds back.

LB leads Les Bleus

While the French trio were 1/2/3 out onto the run, once the first hill was crested, the leading five were Pereira, Lehmann, Bergere, Le Corre and Schomburg. The German didn’t stay there for long, and soon it was a leading four under blue skies and sunshine, cheered on by huge crowds at the site of the 1972 Olympic Games.

Twelfth at the end of lap one was Geens, who was the fastest runner on the course – but he would need to increase his rate of capture if he was going to challenge for the win. He wasn’t out of contention yet.

The defending European Champion from Valencia 2021, Dorian Coninx, got himself back to the leading group up the hill on lap two, perhaps invoking the spirit of Non Stanford yesterday. From dropped on the run to leading the race, Munich was delivering again. Going the other way however was Joao Pereira , who couldn’t stay with the pace, which left a leading quarter of U23 World Champion, Csonger Lehmann (Hungary), and the three French stars.

Geens was up to eighth at the midpoint of the run, but was still 34 seconds back. He would need to find something truly special over the final 5km to contend. 2.5km later, that miracle was not going to happen.

Leo Bergere, the Mr Consistent of the World Triathlon Championship Series pulled clear, with 2018 European Champion, Pierre Le Corre, looking safe in second place.. If France were going to sweep the podium, it would all come down to a stride-for-stride battle between Coninx and Lehmann.

For all his consistency, Bergere’s C.V. largely is filled with 2nd / 3rd / 4th places – but not today. He would take the 2022 European Championship title, a well deserved reward for his progress over the last couple of years.

Le Corre added Munich 2022 silver to his Glasgow 2018 gold – and thanks to the fine finishing speed of Coninx, the podium flags would all feature the tricolour colours of the impressive French team.

European Championships Munich 2022 Results

Saturday 13 August 2022 – 1.5km / 40km / 10km

ELITE MEN

  • 1. Leo Bergere (FRA) – 1:41:09
  • 2. Dorian Coninx (FRA) – 1:41:17
  • 3. Pierre Le Corre (FRA) – 1:41:24
  • 4. Csongor Lehmann (HUN) – 1:41:30
  • 5. Jelle Geens (BEL) – 1:41:39
  • 6. Joao Pereira (POR) – 1:41:49
  • 7. Jonas Schomburg (GER) – 1:42:08
  • 8. Michele Sarzilla (ITA) – 1:42:33
  • 9. Simon Westermann (SUI) – 1:42:39
  • 10. Bence Bicsak (HUN) – 1:42:46-
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
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.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
PremiumExpert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Gordon Ramsay 703 Luxembourg 2025
‘I’M BACK and Cooking!’ – Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay celebrates triathlon return
Danielle Lewis (USA) takes the win in Lake Placid.
Start list for IRONMAN Lake Placid REVEALED – and it’s stacked with world class names
Julie Derron wins T100 San Francisco 2025
IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz 2025: Olympic star wins by MORE than half an hour for first full-distance win
Matt Hauser Linn Jeffcoat Willian Australia win Mixed Relay WTCS Hamburg 2025
WTCS Hamburg 2025 Mixed Relay World Championship: Hauser anchors Australia to glory
Kat Matthews wins IRONMAN 703 Swansea 2025 finish line
IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea 2025 women’s results: Kat Matthews a class apart
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...