Calm and cool weather conditions welcomed a record field of over 3,200 athletes at Challenge Vieux Boucau on France’s Atlantic coast. The middle-distance event saw Pierre Dupuy claim a home victory following a high-tempo bike leg, while Carolin Meyer secured her first professional middle-distance win after a decisive battle on the run.
Men’s Race
Local favorite Pierre Dupuy exited the wave-free lake swim first in 23:01, closely followed by Gaspard Tharreau (FRA) and Joshua Lewis (GBR) 18 seconds behind. Early on the bike section, Lewis overtook Dupuy to assume the lead, while a eight-man chase group led by Maximillian Sperl (GER) followed behind.
Dupuy responded by pushing speeds above 50 km/h to reconnect with Lewis around the 60 km mark. The two exchanged the lead over the next 20 km while adhering to the 20-meter draft rule. Dupuy eventually established a small margin coming into the second transition (T2) and headed out onto the run course in first position.
Dupuy expanded his lead early in the run leg. Shortly into the second lap, Lewis was forced to retire from the race (DNF), leaving Dupuy with a four-minute cushion over Quentin Barreau (FRA), with Enzo Bourdon (FRA) a further 90 seconds back in third. Although Barreau systematically reduced the gap over the closing miles, Dupuy maintained his lead to cross the line first in 3:32:41. Barreau took second place in 3:34:52, and Bourdon completed an all-French podium in third with a time of 3:36:02.
Men’s Podium:
- Pierre Dupuy (FRA) – 3:32:41
- Quentin Barreau (FRA) – 3:34:52
- Enzo Bourdon (FRA) – 3:36:02
Women’s Race
In the women’s competition, Jasmine Holmes (GBR) led out of the water in 26:53, closely pursued by Juliette Lucet (FRA) and Eva Marsac (FRA).
On the bike, Lucet took over the lead from Holmes, while Carolin Meyer began bridging the gap after exiting the swim nearly two minutes behind the leaders. By the 40 km mark, Meyer caught Lucet. The duo shared pacing duties to extend their advantage over the rest of the field. A late surge by Lucet allowed her to enter T2 with a narrow five-second advantage over Meyer. Further back, Minttu Hukka (FIN) moved up from ninth position after the swim to enter T3 in third place, 5:30 behind the leader.
Lucet held a slim 10-second lead over Meyer through the first of four run laps, but Meyer caught her midway through the second lap. Over the final two laps, Meyer established a lead and steadily broke away to cross the finish line in 4:07:19, earning her first professional middle-distance title. Lucet secured second place in 4:08:38, while Hukka completed the podium in third with a time of 4:09:22.
Women’s Podium:
- Carolin Meyer (GER) – 4:07:19
- Juliette Lucet (FRA) – 4:08:38
- Minttu Hukka (FIN) – 4:09:22
