The 2025 Chengdu World Games closed in style on Sunday with the Duathlon 2×2 Mixed Relay. Under bright skies at Xinlong Lake, Spain’s Maria Varo Zubiri and Javier Martin Morales delivered a masterclass in tactics, grit, and pure finishing power to claim gold ahead of the Netherlands and Belgium.
A Four-Nation Battle
From the opening leg, it was clear the podium would be decided among four powerhouse teams: Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Mexico. Maria Varo, Aline Kootstra, Jeanne Dupont, and Anahi Alvarez traded blows in a thrilling women’s opener that left no room for hesitation. Kootstra edged the first handoff for the Dutch, but the gaps behind were razor-thin, setting the tone for a relentless contest.
Innovation Meets Aggression
The men’s first outing brought a fascinating twist. The Netherlands’ Valentin Van Wersch rolled the dice with a bold strategy – ditching cycling shoes altogether to shave seconds in transition. It paid off initially, keeping him shoulder to shoulder with Spain’s Morales, Belgium’s Arnaud Dely, and Mexico’s Eduardo Nunez Gomez.
But Morales wasn’t content to sit in. True to Spanish racing DNA, he attacked hard on the bike, forcing Van Wersch to answer again and again. By the time the athletes tagged off, Spain had nosed ever so slightly ahead – a hint of what was to come.
The Final Word
When the women returned for their second leg, the quartet of leaders remained inseparable. Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Mexico rolled into the final transition together, ensuring the medals would be decided in the last 1km run of the day.
And that’s when Morales struck. With 500 meters to go, he unleashed a devastating kick that even the quick-transitioning Dutch could not match. Flying down the blue carpet, Morales sealed the win for Spain, a fitting capstone to a weekend in which his partner Varo had already claimed silver in the individual race.
The Netherlands’ gamble earned them silver – proof that bold thinking can hang with brute force in this format. Belgium, powered by individual bronze medallist Dupont and the ever-consistent Dely, showed their resilience to secure bronze, just ahead of a spirited Mexican squad.