In one of the most exciting sprint finishes of the season, Brazil’s Manoel Messias edged out Portugal’s Joao Nuno Batista and Spain’s David Cantero Del Campo to claim victory at the World Triathlon Cup Viña del Mar. The three athletes charged side by side into the final meters, with Messias ultimately proving the fastest when it mattered most – sealing a sensational win in Chile.
The Sprint Distance race delivered nonstop action from start to finish. Athletes were first tested by challenging swim conditions, with high surf making the beach start particularly tricky and forcing competitors to dive under heavy waves before settling into rhythm.
Once on the bike, the race remained wide open. Multiple chase groups formed, several riders launched attacks, and the pace stayed relentless. Spain’s Sergio Baxter Cabrera entered T2 in the lead after a solo effort, but two large groups were only seconds behind, setting up a thrilling final 5K run.
It was during that run that the decisive moves came. Messias, Nuno Batista, Cantero Del Campo, and France’s Tom Richard broke away from the rest, forming a lead quartet that dominated the front of the race. With a few hundred meters to go, Richard was the first to lose contact as Cantero Del Campo pushed the pace. But in the final sprint, the Spaniard’s earlier effort caught up with him – allowing Messias to surge ahead and take a hard-fought and well-deserved win.