Hungary for gold: Csonger Lehmann secures U23 World title in Edmonton

An early start on something non-triathlon related for me (a rarity in itself!), meant that I didn’t get to watch the U23 Men’s World Triathlon Championship from Edmonton on Saturday night.

Given that, I’m going to defer to the medai team at World Triathlon for the report on that race (below), which completes the four races from Edmonton, the others all available of course on these links:

Elite Women – Taylor Knibb wins the race, Flora Duffy takes the title
Elite Men – Edmonton victory and World Championship double for Kristian Blummenfelt
U23 Women – Emma Lombardi keeps U23 title in French hands

Csongor Lehmann finds perfect timing to win U23 World title in Edmonton

A finely timed effort from Csongor Lehmann saw the Hungarian go one better than his 2019 silver to win the U23 World title at the World Triathlon Championship Finals Edmonton. It had been a three-way battle for the podium places for much of the run, but once Lehmann made the decisive move there was no reply from Tim Hellwig (GER) and Matthew Hauser (AUS) who had given their all on a demanding course to win the silver and bronze.

“I can’t describe the feelings right now, this is an emotional moment,” said a relieved Lehmann. “After second last time I put so much pressure on myself and that last kilometre was so hard but I wanted it so much. I had no idea how close they were I just wanted to push the limits and try not to look back.”

How it happened

The final action of the World Triathlon Championship Series Finals Edmonton saw 39 men take to the Hawrelak Park start line, Matt Hauser wearing the number one. Chile’s Diego Moya was once again most impressive through the water, followed out and back in for the second lap by Valentin Morlec (FRA) and Miguel Hidalgo (BRA).

Dylan McCullough (NZL) and Chase McQueen (USA) were going well after their exertions in the previous weekend’s Mixed Relay just five seconds back with Hungary’s 2019 silver medallist Lehmann.

U23 World Triathlon Championship Edmonton

Hauser was right there with a big group coming into T1 together and it was the Australian out front over the opening kilometre of the 40km bike with a group of eleven riders that included Tim Hellwig, Leon Pauger (AUT) and Simon Westermann (SUI) joining the swim pace setters.

They had 25 seconds to the chase group led by Tyler Smith (BER) who in turn had 10 seconds over a third pack spearheaded by Paul Georgenthum (FRA) at the halfway point.

As they organised themselves better with each pass of the grandstands, those 11 opened up just over a minute of daylight to the likes of Sasha Caterina (SUI) and Kyotaro Yoshikawa (JPN) by the end of the bike.

Hauser pushed the pace straight out of transition and took the race to Hidalgo, Hellwig, Moya and Lehmann, eager to sign off from the U23 category in style.

Moya also looked in determined mood off the front of those giving chase six seconds back after the first of four laps of the run. Lehmann then took up the chase as the Chilean faded at the 5km mark and, despite Hauser looking in control, the Hungarian and Hellwig pulled alongside.

The rest of the field stretched out and it soon became clear that the podium would be decided by that front three once Moya’s challenge faded at the bell and he dropped 30 seconds back, the only doubt now the order.

Lehmann went first and pulled clear, only for Hellwig to start closing back in. Hauser was starting to lose ground, however, and it was Hungary’s 2019 silver medalist who was able to hold on, going one better this time around to scoop the world title he craved and continue the Lehmann triathlon family dynasty in grand fashion.

Diego Moya finished in fourth 80 seconds back followed by Westermann. Pauger, McQueen, Hidalgo, Morlec and a sprinting Henseleit rounding out the top ten.