David Cantero del Campo delivered a brilliant sprint finish to win Mixed Relay gold for Spain at WTCS Abu Dhabi on Saturday, as a late penalty ended Switzerland’s challenge.
Cantero pulled clear on the final 400m lap to secure victory in 1:18:14, two seconds ahead of Australia, with Brazil completing the podium a further four seconds back.
Max Studer had led on the final run but still had a 10-second penalty to serve after missing the dismount line at the end of the bike. He stopped just before the blue carpet and ultimately brought Switzerland home sixth, narrowly ahead of Great Britain.
Spain’s winning quartet was Sara Guerrero Manso, Antonio Serrat Seoane, Marta Pintanel Raymundo and Cantero.
Here’s how a thrilling race played out…
Leg 1
A pontoon start opened the race, with beach starts for the subsequent legs, while wind and a strong current added to the swim challenge.
Jolien Vermeylen led towards shore for Belgium, but former surf lifesaver Emma Jeffcoat picked a brilliant line back to the beach to move Australia ahead. Originally scheduled for leg three, Jeffcoat’s switch to the opener appeared to have paid immediate dividends.
Vermeylen exited second and Great Britain’s Sophie Evans third, although all 17 teams were covered by just 16 seconds starting the bike.
A front pack of 15 came together, with Evans leading through the first of two bike laps before Jeffcoat headed into T2. Only four seconds separated those 15 teams at the end of the ride.
The 1.4km run brought the first meaningful changes, as Gina Sereno took over at the front from Russia’s Iana Chenskaia.
Sereno handed the USA a one-second lead in 19:55, with Belgium at +3, Germany +4 and Brazil +5. Spain was seven seconds behind, while Australia and Great Britain handed over at +13 and +14 respectively.
Leg 2
Seth Rider, who had sat out the previous day’s individual race, took over for the USA, while Brazil had Friday’s winner Miguel Hidalgo and Australia his runner-up Matthew Hauser.
Rider and Denis Kolobrodov emerged together at the front after the swim, but strong efforts from Max Stapley and Hauser brought Great Britain and Australia up to third and fourth, both just two seconds behind.
Eleven teams formed the leading bike group. Simon Westermann briefly edged clear for Switzerland on the second lap, but Ben Dijkstra led the Netherlands into T2, with all 11 still within five seconds.
There was also uncertainty over a reported 10-second shortcut penalty against Australia relating to Jeffcoat’s swim exit. That decision was subsequently overturned, leaving the team with nothing to serve.
On the run, Hidalgo and Hauser again featured at the front, echoing their battle in the individual race, with Rider close behind.
Hidalgo handed Brazil the halfway lead in 38:09, one second ahead of Australia and the USA. The Netherlands and Russia followed at +7, Belgium +8 and Spain +9, with Great Britain eighth at +11.
Leg 3
Vittoria Lopes immediately made her swimming strength count for Brazil, breaking clear with nobody able to hold her feet.
Eve Whitaker continued her impressive weekend after her WTCS debut on Friday, lifting Great Britain from eighth to second at the swim exit, seven seconds behind Lopes. Gwen Jorgensen, fresh from her individual podium, followed at +8 for the USA.
Whitaker joined Lopes at the front early on the bike and tried to persuade her to take a turn, but the pair were caught. Seven riders came together, while Jorgensen lost contact behind.
Cathia Schär then produced an important chase for Switzerland, bringing herself and the Netherlands’ Babette Rosman back to the leaders. Nine teams reached T2 covered by just two seconds, with Jorgensen 33 seconds down.
Whitaker was first out of transition, but Germany’s Nina Eim soon powered past and established a six-second lead by the handover.
Schär completed her recovery in second, with Australia and Russia at +8, Spain +10 and Great Britain +15. Brazil had slipped to +30, while the USA handed over 10th at +49.
Leg 4
Luke Willian brought Australia out of the water first, with Harry Leleu lifting Great Britain to second, Max Studer third for Switzerland and Cantero fourth for Spain. All six leading teams were covered by four seconds.
Willian attacked early on the bike while the five chasers took time to organise. His lead reached 10 seconds midway through the first lap.
Behind, the USA, Netherlands, Belgium and Brazil bridged across to make a nine-man chase group, but Willian continued to press on alone.
By T2 his advantage had grown to 17 seconds, with Studer and Cantero leading the pursuit. But Studer missed the dismount line, earning a confirmed 10-second penalty which would prove crucial.
The final run was 1.6km, over four 400m laps, compared with 1.4km on each of the preceding legs.
Cantero and Studer rapidly closed on Willian, cutting the gap to seven seconds after the opening lap and two after the second. Studer then moved into the lead, although his penalty remained outstanding.
At the end of lap three, Studer, Cantero and Willian were together, with Brazil’s Manoel Messias just five seconds behind.
The final lap delivered the decisive drama. Studer entered the penalty area just before the blue carpet, while Cantero sprinted clear to seal Spain’s victory.
Willian held on for silver, reward for his bold solo bike effort, with Messias completing Brazil’s podium after Hidalgo’s individual gold the previous day.
Russia edged Germany for fourth, both recording 1:18:27. Studer returned from his penalty stop to finish sixth in 1:18:30, two seconds ahead of Leleu, with Belgium, the USA and the Netherlands completing the top 10.
Results
Saturday 14 November 2026 – WTCS Abu Dhabi Mixed Relay
| Position | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 1:18:14 | — |
| 2 | Australia | 1:18:16 | +0:02 |
| 3 | Brazil | 1:18:20 | +0:06 |
| 4 | Russia | 1:18:27 | +0:13 |
| 5 | Germany | 1:18:27 | +0:13 |
| 6 | Switzerland | 1:18:30 | +0:16 |
| 7 | Great Britain | 1:18:32 | +0:18 |
| 8 | Belgium | 1:18:38 | +0:24 |
| 9 | United States | 1:18:39 | +0:25 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 1:18:44 | +0:30 |
