Search
shop

Mola starts season on the podium in Venice-Caorle

Benjamin Choquert takes the win at the European Duathlon Championships ahead of Belgian Arnaud Dely and Spaniard Mario Mola.
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Three-time World Triathlon Champion, Mario Mola, who is aiming for his fourth Olympic Games in Paris next year, got his 2023 season underway with a third place finish in Venice-Carole at the European Duathlon Championships this past weekend.

The Spaniard, who hasn’t quite been able to rediscover the form that took him to the top of the world in recent years, just missed out on the European title by a couple of seconds, but will likely take confidence from this result heading into his next block of racing.

Advertisement

Strong run pedigree within the field

In Venice-Caorle, a number of world class duathletes, including former Duathlon World Champion Benjamin Choquert of France and last year’s European Duathlon Champion Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger, also of France, looked ready to push Mola’s running abilities with some serious speed.

Whilst Mola, well known as one of the best runners in the sport of triathlon, boasts impressive running personal bests, with a 13:41 5000m and a 28:44 10km, athletes such as Choquert are as quick or even quicker.

The Frenchman, who in 2015 won the French 5000m national championships, has a 10km personal best of 28:21, which combined with 1500m speed of 3:49, signalled that if he remained in contention on the bike, he’d have the ability to either outlast or outkick the rest of the field.

Choquert edges it

On the day, a group of six athletes made it through the first run side-by-side, including Choquert, Hueber-Moosbrugger and Mola, before the group settled in together on the bike to leave it down to a lockdown on the final run.

Whilst the race distances unfortunately don’t seem to be accurate, there’s no doubt that these men were absolutely flying over the final “2.5km” run leg, with Choquert overcoming a small deficit out of T2 to overhaul Arnaud Dely of Belgium, to win in 48:21, with Dely second in 48:23 and Mola just missing out on the top spot by three seconds in 48:24.

Mario Mola and Benjamin Choquert at European Duathlon Championships 2023
Photo Credit – European Triathlon Federation

Hugo Milner, who is an incredible runner with a 13:44 5km personal best as well as a European Cup winner, was the top finishing Brit in eight place, whilst defending champion Hueber-Moosbrugger couldn’t stay with the leading trio in the final stages of the second run leg and finished out of the medals in fourth.

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Dave Ellis / Luke Pollard - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
Golden opportunity – British Triathlon launches search for LA2028 paratriathlon guides
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2024 - Anne Haug on run course
Best marathon shoes for Ironman – the ‘legal’ super shoes you CAN wear to level up your run split
Challenge Sanremo 2024 - Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
How to fuel your triathlon training: Expert nutritionist tips to help you nail every session
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
latest News
Taylor Knibb 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo New Zealand
US triathlon phenom Taylor Knibb hails great rival Kat Matthews for record-breaking IRONMAN Texas win
Richard Varga Jonny Brownlee Arzachena
Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee reveals ‘Last Dance’ motivation behind latest challenge
IRONMAN Kona 2022 Age Group Results
How will “re-imagined” IRONMAN World Championship at Kona actually look for Age Groupers?
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2023 Finish
IRONMAN World Championship goes ALL IN on Kona again with men and women to race on same day from 2026
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
Nice gets consolation prize of 70.3 Worlds after IRONMAN World Championships return to Kona
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

Share to...