As with the Junior Women’s race which started two hours earlier, the 2022 Men’s World Triathlon Junior Championship in Montreal on Friday saw the opening 750m swim replaced by a 2.5km run, thanks to the heavy rainfall of the previous days in Québec.

Thomas Hansmaennel (FRA) ensured that the story of this race wasn’t the swim however, taking total control in the first kilometre of the closing run and simply running away from everyone by a significant margin.

Hansmaennel crushes competition

A massive group of more than 30 athletes were separated by barely 10 seconds after the opening 2.5km run and the four-lap, 19.3km bike ride. This really was going to be a case of ‘all down to the run’. As with Elite senior racing at the moment, the French Juniors – all four of them – were consistently towards the front of the leading group on the bike. Could one of them take the title, and continue the production line of talent from France?

Luke Anthony (USA) was the first out of T1, but it didn’t take long until Thomas Hansmaennel (FRA) flew past him and very quickly built a significant gap of approaching 10 seconds. Too much, too soon or just different class? We had 4km to find out.

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Thomas Hansmaennel FRA is out on his own to lead the race on lap 2 of the 5km run.

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Just 17 years of age, Hansmaennel has very limited international race experience on his C.V., but had two previous podiums this year in Europe Triathlon Junior Cup events. He was showing absolutely no fear here though, and nobody seemed able to go with him.

A gritted push by the leader Thomas Hansmaennel of France in the 2022 World Triathlon Junior Men's Championships Montreal.
Toby Powers AUS battling in second position and USAs Reese Vannerson running in third.

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Starting the second and final lap, he had a lead of approaching 20 seconds and just 2.5km left to cover. He was totally dominating this race, and while the pain was showing on his face, there was no sign at all that he was remotely under pressure for the gold.

Behind, the battle for silver was between Australia (Toby Powers) and the USA (Reece Vannerson). Powers took that one – but the day truly belonged to Hansmaennel.

Frenchman Thomas Hansmaennel went straight to the front on the 5km run to dominate and win in Montreal and take 2022 World Triathlon Junior Men's title! 🥇
🥈 Toby Powers AUS
🥉 Reese Vannersonhttps://t.co/JwsigQWx1F @FFTRI @TriAustralia @usatriathlon pic.twitter.com/p2SVMjTejX

— TriathlonLIVE (@triathlonlive) June 24, 2022

2022 World Triathlon Junior Championships Montreal Results

Friday June 24, 2022 – 2.5km run / 19.3km bike / 5km run
(Swim replaced by run)

Junior Men

• 1. Thomas Hansmaennel (FRA) – 51:40
• 2. Toby Powers (AUS) – 51:57
• 3. Reece Vannerson (USA) – 52:00
• 4. Gaspard Tharreau (FRA) – 52:16
• 5. Pablo Isotton (FRA) – 52:17

• 44. Joe Sherman (GBR) – 56:30
• 52. Ben Cumberland (GBR) – 58:55