Search
shop

IRONMAN 70.3 Cascais 2022: Koolhaas, Bernardi top Portugal podiums

The Netherlands and Italy took top honours in Portugal on Saturday at the 2022 edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Cascais
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Third 12 months ago, Menno Koolhaas took his first 70.3 title on Saturday with a hard-earned victory at IRONMAN 70.3 Cascais. Once again, France’s Mathis Margirier marked himself out as one to watch in the future, powering away solo on the bike and leading for almost all of the run.

It all came down to the run for the top six women, and an Italy vs. Great Britain battle saw Marta Bernardi get the better of Nikki Bartlett. After waiting seven years to top her first IRONMAN 70.3 podium, the Italian now added a second in a matter of months in what is turning out to be the best season of her career to date.

Pro Men

The opening 1.9km swim at Ribeira Beach in Cascais saw Menno Koolhaus (NED) stop the clock at a rather swift 20:33, suggesting either fast conditions or, perhaps, a slightly shorter course than advertised. He lead a group of five, closely followed by Joshua Lewis (GBR), Andrea Salvisberg (SUI), Mathis Margirier (FRA) and Tom Davis (GBR).

The French athlete had led for most of the day last week at IRONMAN 70.3 Venice-Jesolo, before finishing second. He excelled on the bike there; more of the same in Portugal?

The chasing swim group were almost a minute behind the leading quintet, while even further back were William Mennesson (FRA) +2:08, Rasmus Svenningsson (SWE) +2:58 and Bart Aernouts (BEL) + 3:49.

By the midpoint of the bike, Margirier was away and solo at the front, but there was now an increasingly large group just a minute behind him comprising 11 athletes. Davis was no longer there (+3:38 down now), but Mennesson and Svenningsson plus Germany’s Sebastian Neef, were among those moving well, and their current pace, seemingly set to catch the leader before T2.

Margirier however was seemingly in no mood to give up his advantage, pulling away over the second half of the ride. His 2:07:34 bike split gave him a T2 advantage of 2:32 over what was now a group of eight. Commonwealth Games athlete, Josh Lewis, was still among them, but Mennesson and Salvisberg had lost a minute, and would start the run around three and a half minutes behind the leader.

Just as he did in Venice, Margirier started strongly on the run, with only Menno Koolhas – third last year in Cascais – making and significant gains over the opening 5km. By the midpoint of the run, the Dutch athlete had closed to within exactly one minute of the Frenchman.

By 15km that was down to 28 seconds and with the writing seemingly on the wall, Koolhaas took the lead around the 20km mark and pushed on for the first IRONMAN 70,3 title of his career.

The fastest runner on the course was Switzerland’s double Olympian, Andrea Salvisburg, and while his efforts would be rewarded with a podium, it wasn’t quite enough to take second place from Margirier. All three podium finishers however crossed the line within 60 seconds of each other.

Pro Women

As with the men, fast swim times saw Helene Alberdi (ESP) exit in 23:03, with a British duo of Kate Curran and Rosie Weston on her shoulder. Home athlete Raquel Rocha was just under a minute back, before the main chase group followed two minutes down on the leading trio.

IRONMAN 70.3 Cascais 2022 - Helene Alberdi
Photo Credit: IRONMAN Portugal

Further back was 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship ninth place finisher, Nikki Bartlett. That’s not unusual however, and while 14th position doesn’t look good on paper, her 2:58 deficit was far from putting her out of race-winning contention, with her bike and run abilities.

Midway through the bike leg and it was Alberdi, joined by Rocha, leading the way. Their lead was far from concrete however, with Nina Derron (SUI), Kate Curran, Jade Nicole Roberts (RSA), Marta Bernardi (ITA), Jeanne Collonge (FRA), Kaidi Kivioja (EST) and, as expected, Nikki Bartlett all with 80 seconds and moving well.

The trend continued over the remainder of the ride, the front of the field all coming together. Six remained together as the dismount line approached – Collonge, Derron, Bartlett, Alberdi, Roberts and Bernardi separated by just nine seconds. The run would decide this one.

Setting the early pace was Marta Bernardi, winner this year at IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne. After a slow T2, surprisingly to us at least, Bartlett was the sixth of six through the 5km mark. Still only 18 seconds back on second place however, still plenty of racing left in this one.

At the halfway mark, Bernardi was still setting the pace and 1:14 clear of second, which was now Great Britain’s Nikki Bartlett, who was second last month in Dresden. Was it going to be the same again, or could the British athlete fight back over the closing 10km?

30 seconds behind Nikki, Alberdi and Roberts were still in close contention for third place heading into the second half of the run.

There would be no late fade on the run for Marta Bernardi. Her 1:20:33 run (Bartlett 1:21:53) saw her finish 1:24 clear at the finish line, with Roberts completing the podium.

IRONMAN 70.3 Cascais 2022 Results

Saturday October 15, 2022 – 1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

Pro Men

  • 1. Menno Koolhaas (NED) – 3:45:28
  • 2. Mathis Margirier (FRA) – 3:45:43
  • 3. Andrea Salvisburg (SUI) – 3:46:22
  • 4. Rasmus Svenningsson (SWE) – 3:47:00
  • 5. Joao Ferreira (POR) – 3:49:04
  • 10. Tom Davis (GBR) – 3:51:56
  • 12. Joshua Lewis (GBR) – 3:54:47
  • 22. Will Munday (GBR) – 4:04:48

Pro Women

  • 1. Marta Bernardi (ITA) – 4:18:51
  • 2. Nikki Bartlett (GBR) – 4:20:16
  • 3. Jade Nicole Roberts (RSA) – 4:23:15
  • 4. Helene Alberdi (ESP) – 4:25:02
  • 5. Nina Derron (SUI) – 4:26:02
  • 8. Kate Curran (GBR) – 4:27:48
  • 11. Lizzie Rayner (GBR) – 4:31:52
  • 13. Rachel Brown (GBR) – 4:34:36
  • 18. Rosie Weston (GBR) – 4:42:54
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
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
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
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Triathlon superstar Hayden Wilde to make shock comeback at London T100
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘Intimidating’ to go into Worlds after four months off – but Lionel Sanders up for the challenge
Georgia Taylor-Brown Alex Yee Super League Triathlon Malibu 2021
Triathlon’s most decorated Olympic duo now honoured by their former University
Olav Aleksander Bu Photo credit: Roj Ferman | Surpas
Top triathlon coach Olav Aleksander Bu says it’s all about the team after Uno-X bag first Tour de France win
Danielle Lewis (USA) takes the win in Lake Placid.
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025: Date, start time, how to watch and who’s racing
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

100+ new articles/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.

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

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...