Search
shop

Lausanne 2019: Kristian Blummenfelt wins Grand Final, Vincent Luis is World Champion

Series leader Vincent Luis secured the ITU World Championship title in Lausanne, where Kristian Blummenfelt powered to a first WTS win
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

‘Big Blu’ finally tops a World Triathlon Series podium

Fifth place enough for Vincent Luis to become 2019 ITU Triathlon World Champion

Despite a non-wetsuit swim, warm conditions and a challenging course on the bike, the depth of quality in men’s ITU racing meant that it all came down to the run at the ITU World Traithlon Grand Final Lausanne.

The start-list was loaded and the vast majority of the pre-race favourites were still there in the leading group of 20+ at T2, including Kristian Blummenfelt (who had one of his best ever swims), and three-time ITU World Champion Mario Mola, who made light of a 20 second swim defict to navigate his way to the lead group on the stunning circuit in Lausanne. We’ve had some courses on the circuit that look frankly awful on TV – but this is without doubt one of the most picture perfect you’ll ever see.

There were plenty of attacks on the bike – Blummenfelt, Marten Van Riel (BEL), Andrea Salvisberg (SUI) and Jonathan Brownlee just a few who tried either individually or in small groups – but none ever reached even double figures in terms of seconds gained.

After six second-place finishes in WTS events (including the 2017 Rotterdam Grand Final), Kristian Blummenfelt has been on a mission to crack that top step, and today was his day. He hit the front – hard – and in typical style, just kept on pushing. Mario Mola and Vincent Luis (FRA) were running together on 2nd/3rd for much of the run, before Mola pushed on with 2.5km to go and for a brief period looked like he was closing on the Norwegian. Blummenfelt has suffered that fate for too many times…

This time however, Kristian was not fading – despite some suffering from blisters he revealed, post-race – and he was able to grab a Norwegian flag and truly enjoy the blue carpet. Mola was clear in second, but now series leader Luis was fading. Passed by Fernando Alarza (ESP) and Gustav Iden (NOR), he was still in position to become World Champion courtesy of his points standings and fifth place meant that the title transferred from his training partner.

Javier Gomez (who will be racing the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship next weekend), finished in sixth place to secure a World Championship Series podium (Bronze), for the 11th time in his incredible career.

Jonathan Brownlee had a bad T2, his bike hitting the floor, and he would finish eighth, while Alex Yee ran from a long way back at T2 with the third quickest run (31:12) to end the day 13th.

*** TO BE UPDATED ***

ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Lausanne – Saturday 31st August 2019
1.5km / 40km / 10km

ELITE MEN

  1. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) – 1:50:46
  2. Mario Mola (ESP) – 1:51:02
  3. Fernando Alarza (ESP) – 1:51:17
  4. Gustav Iden (NOR) – 1:51:33
  5. Vincent Luis (FRA) – 1:51:52
  6. Javier Gomez (ESP) – 1:52:13
  7. Casper Stornes (NOR) – 1:52:19
  8. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) – 1:52:31
  9. Marten Van Riel (BEL) – 1:52:52
  10. Alois Knabl (AUT) – 1:52:52
  11. Morgan Pearson (USA) – 1:52:55
  12. Leo Bergere (FRA) – 1:53:10
  13. Alex Yee (GBR) – 1:53:25

WORLD SERIES STANDINGS

  1. Vincent Luis (FRA) – 5095
  2. Mario Mola (ESP) – 4939
  3. Javier Gomez (ESP) – 4533
  4. Fernando Alarza (ESP) – 4395
  5. Marten Van Riel (BEL) – 3659
  6. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) – 3255
  7. Henri Schoeman (RSA) – 3148
  8. Leo Bergere (FRA) – 3042
  9. Gustav Iden (NOR) – 3028
  10. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) – 2892

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
Marquardt Hogenhaug Foley IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
‘World Championship level’ – Marquardt says bike bar was raised at Lake Placid
Solveig Lovseth wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 women’s results: Løvseth shows she’s the real deal and next Norwegian superstar
Matthew Marquardt wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 men’s results: Marquardt wins as defending champ EXPLODES on the run
Matthew Marquardt IRONMAN Cairns 2025 Finish Line
WATCH AGAIN: IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 as Løvseth and Marquardt bag brilliant wins
Ruth Astle
Triathlon star Ruth Astle says injury hell has her on the brink of QUITTING
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...