Search
shop

France sprint to gold again in Men’s Junior Triathlon World Championship

The World Junior Triathlon Championships in Torremolinos delivered another brilliant sprint finish, and another French champion in the men's race
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Following shortly after a brilliant women’s race just a couple of hours before, the Men’s Junior Triathlon World Championship was the final race on Friday evening at the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Torremolinos, Spain.

Ambre Grasset and Fanni Szalai had set a high bar in terms of excitement for the women, but another blue carpet sprint finish ensured that the men delivered too.

Once again, it was France’s day, and upgrading his 2023 silver medal to gold, Nils Serre Gehri just getting the better of the USA’s Reese Vannerson.

Advertisement

Race Recap

European Junior Champion in both 2023 and 2024, Portugal’s João Nuno Batista was the defending champion from Hamburg last year, and his attempt at a ‘double-double’ got off to a fine start – alongside Marton Kropko (HUN), Gregor Rasva (EST) and Roy Baron (ISR), he led the field into T1 after the opening 750m sea swim. Batista and Kropko had used a hard swim to create a bike breakaway earlier this year at the European Championship in Balikesir, Turkey, and perhaps had their sights set on breaking up the field from the start again.

A group of nine did form on the first lap at which point their advantage was 21 seconds. That held pretty much static through laps two and three, but into the final 5km of the bike leg and it was all change, as the chasing group merged with the leaders, leaving 20 athletes heading into T2 in very close order.

Spain’s Hector Tolsa Garcia powered into the opening section of the run, but come the 2.5km point – halfway – we were back to a leading group of seven, comprising Nuno Batista, Tolsa Garcia, Kropko, Nils Serre Gehri (FRA), Achille Besson (FRA), David Lang (LUX) and Reese Vannerson (USA), with Great Britain’s Oliver Conway just struggling to stay with them.

Into the final kilometre and the French duo were pushing the pace on, before the USA’s Vannerson – bronze two years ago – moved the front and tried to up the speed another notch. Nils Serre Gehri would not be dropped however, and with the memory of a silver last year, he made an explosive move just before the final turn onto the blue carpet to gain pole position. Vannerson dug deep, but matching the feat of their Junior women, it would be France in gold and bronze, with Achille Besson completing the podium.

Nils Serre Gehri / Reese Vannerson World Junior Triathlon Championship 2024 Torremolinos
Photo Credit: Tommy Zaferes / World Triathlon

WTCS Torremolinos results 2024

Friday 18 October 2024 – 750m / 20.4km / 5km

Junior Men World Championship

  • 1. Nils Serre Gehri (FRA) – 55:10
  • 2. Reese Vannerson (USA) – 55:11
  • 3. Achille Besson (FRA) – 55:22
  • 4. David Lang (LUX) – 55:25
  • 5. Hector Tolsa Garcia (ESP) – 55:27
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
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
Jonny Brownlee Tokyo 2020 Mixed Team Relay run leg
Triathlon superstar Jonny Brownlee has revealed why he will NOT be doing an IRONMAN any time soon
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga results 2025: Long and Alexander win as swims are CANCELLED
Hanne De Vet wins Challenge Family The Championship 2025
The Championship 2025 women’s results: Hanne De Vet star of the show in Samorin
kristian hogenhaug wins challenge family the championship 2025
The Championship 2025 men’s results: Høgenhaug back to winning ways in Samorin
Kristian Blummenfelt wins 703 Aix en Provence 2025
IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence results 2025: Blummenfelt and Pierré just too good
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...