The WTCS Grand Final in Pontevedra on Saturday delivered high drama and an epic finish as Dorian Coninx claimed world title glory in the most unlikely of finishes.
The Frenchman came out on top both in the race in Spain and the season standings after pipping Germany’s Tim Hellwig and compatriot Pierre Le Corre in an epic blanket finish.
Meanwhile it was agony again for Britain’s Alex Yee, who had been hoping it would be third time lucky in his world title bid after two near misses. He finished down the field in 30th after exiting the water well off the pace and being unable to recover.
Yee’s main title coming into the race – Hayden Wilde of New Zealand – also had a big deficit to overcome after the swim and that would be compounded by a 15-second penalty he then picked up. He would recover somewhat to finish 10th on the day.
Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca as the third of the leading title contenders heading into Saturday, and he came home in 15th place as Coninx claimed a highly unlikely world title in dramatic circumstances.
WTCS Pontevedra 2023 Full Results
Here is the full finishing order from the race for Elite Men on Saturday:
- 1. Dorian Coninx (FRA) – 1:42:22
- 2. Tim Hellwig (GER) – 1:42:22
- 3. Pierre Le Corre (FRA) – 1:42:22
- 4. Leo Bergere (FRA) – 1:42:28
- 5. Lasse Luhrs (GER) – 1:42:44
- 6. Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) – 1:42:48
- 7. Csongor Lehmann (HUN) – 1:42:54
- 8. Matthew Hauser (AUS) – 1:43:04
- 9. Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN) – 1:43:09
- 10, Hayden Wilde (NZL) – 1:43:17
- 11. Lasse Nygaard Priester (GER) – 1:43:20
- 12. Tom Richard (FRA) – 1:43:24
- 13. Vetle Bergsvik Thorn (NOR) – 1:43:30
- 14. Ricardo Batista (POR) – 1:43:31
- 15. Vasco Vilaca (POR) – 1:43:45
- 16. Matthew McElroy (USA) – 1:43:48
- 17. Henri Schoeman (RSA) – 1:43:51
- 18. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) – 1:43:54
- 19. Gianluca Pozzatti (ITA) – 1:43:55
- 20. Bence Bicsák (HUN) – 1:43:57
- 21. Dylan McCullough (NZL) – 1:44:00
- 22. Kenji Nener (JPN) – 1:44:08
- 23. Jelle Geens (BEL) – 1:44:12
- 24. Charles Paquet (CAN) – 1:44:16
- 25. Jonas Schomburg (GER) – 1:44:19
- 26. Simon Westermann (SUI) – 1:44:35
- 27. Brandon Copeland (AUS) – 1:44:41
- 28. Luke Willian (AUS) – 1:44:49
- 29. Marten van Riel (BEL) – 1:44:59
- 30. Alex Yee (GBR) – 1:45:02
- 31. Antonio Serrat Seoane (ESP) – 1:45:11
- 32. Makoto Okadura (JPN) – 1:45:20
- 33. Gabor Faldum (HUN) – 1:45:23
- 34. Tjebbe Kaindl (AUT) – 1:45:26
- 35. Jonny Brownlee (GBR) – 1:45:28
- 36. Barclay Izzard (GBR) – 1:45;35
- 37. Valentin Wernz (GER) – 1:45:43
- 38. Genis Grau (ESP) – 1:45:47
- 39. Rostislav Pevtsov (AZE) – 1:46:08
- 40. Tayler Reid (NZL ) – 1:46:26
- 41. Sylvain Fridelance (SUI) – 1:46:33
- 42. Takumi Hojo (JPN) – 1:46:34
- 43. Manoel Messias (BRA) – 1:46:35
- 44. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) – 1:46:35
- 45. Richard Murray (NED) – 1:46:36
- 46. Sergio Baxter Cabrera (ESPN) – 1:46:45
- 47. Brock Hoel (CAN) – 1:46:55
- 48. Roberto Sanchez Mantecon (ESPN) – 1:47:06
- 49. Michele Sarzilla (ITA) – 1:47:18
- 50. Shachar Sagiv (ISR) – 1:47:22
- 51. Callum McClusky (AUS) – 1:47:24
- 52. Ren Sato (JPN) – 1:47:32
- 53. Aoba Yasumatsu (JPN) – 1:47:46
- 54. Arnaud Mengal (BEL) – 1:47:56
- 55. Morgan Pearson (USA) – 1:48:04
- 56. Gaspar Riveros (CHI) – 1:48:14
- 57. Max Stapley (GBR) – 1:48:14
- 58. David Castro Fajardo (ESP) – 1:48:27
- 59. Aram Michell Peñaflor Moysen (MEX) – 1:48:37
- 60. Itamar Eshed (ISR) -1:49:12
- 61. Emil Holm (DEN) – 1:49:34
- DNF Seth Rider (USA)
- DNF Mark Devay (HUN)
- DNF Alois Knabl (AUT)
- DNF Darr Smith (USA)
WTCS Final Standings
- 1. Dorian Coninx (FRA) – 4238
- 2. Hayden Wilde (NZL) – 4061
- 3. Leo Bergere (FRA) – 4003
- 4. Vasco Vilaca (POR) – 3703
- 5. Alex Yee (GBR) – 3629
