The first race of the season can trigger a lot of emotions, as was clearly evident today during Challenge Gran Canaria. Under grueling conditions – featuring heavy gusts of wind and mercilessly rising temperatures – a tearful Caroline Pohle sped to a magnificent victory, while an equally exuberant Damien Le Mesnager secured his first-ever professional win in the men’s field.
Pohle began crying well before she lifted the finish tape above her head. It was a understandable reaction; the German top athlete described last season as a “difficult year” and came into today simply wanting to race freely again. She succeeded. Although she briefly had to play catch-up on the bike, she quickly took the lead and never saw another competitor for the rest of the day.
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However, her ultimate victory was anything but easy. The bike course on Gran Canaria is challenging to say the least, boasting over 1,000 meters of elevation gain over 90 kilometers, made even tougher by the sudden, punishing winds. Not to mention the heat – after the race, almost every professional athlete spoke of unprecedentedly harsh conditions they had rarely encountered before.
Pohle managed to extend her lead to several minutes during the bike leg and consolidated her position during the run. She ultimately won the race in 4:18:17. France’s Anne Sophie Pierre, who also finished second at Challenge Gran Canaria last year, took the silver again in 4:21:44. Nikki Bartlett provided the next emotional moment, crossing the finish line after a long period of injury and nearly nine months away from racing. Bartlett finished third in 4:24:24.
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Just as Much Emotion in the Men’s Race
There were fewer tears in the men’s race, but just as much raw emotion. Former professional cyclist Damien Le Mesnager, who showed strong form in several Challenge races last year, crossed the finish line with a loud shout and an impressive leap. With a time of 3:48:09, he booked his first professional win, having to fight for it until the very last meters.
The race was initially pushed hard by the Italian Michele Bortolamedi, the pre-race favorite, who frequently reached biking speeds between 60 and 80 km/h. He held the lead for a long time, but Le Mesnager was even going faster, closing a three-minute gap on the bike and catching the leader at the 70-kilometer mark.
From that point on, a beautiful tactical battle ensued, with Le Mesnager and Bortolamedi taking turns at the front and regularly swapping positions. Even at high speeds, they strictly adhered to drafting rules and eventually returned to T2 together. Bortolamedi briefly took the lead during the first few meters of the run, but Le Mesnager soon reclaimed the top spot and ran his way to a stunning victory.
Le Mesnager won in 3:48:09, while Bortolamedi took second in 3:50:05. Fellow Italian Michele Sarzilla delivered an incredible half-marathon, making up several positions to finish third in 3:55:31.
