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 -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

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.

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
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
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Hayden Wilde’s comeback moving closer – and why he’s inspired by Clarkson’s Farm
Paris 2024 Women's Triathlon podium - Cassandre Beaugrand, Julie Derron, Beth Potter
GOLDEN opportunity for the sport as first medals of LA2028 will be women’s triathlon
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
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...