World Triathlon Cup Hong Kong: Britain’s Rainsley shines as Gonzalez Garcia kicks clear to win

Sian Rainsley made it a golden weekend for Team GB, as the 26-year-old won the World Triathlon Cup Hong Kong just hours after Hugo Milner took the tape at the Europe Triathlon Cup Quarteira.

Taking her first win at this level, Rainsley managed to hold off Americans Katie Zaferes and Kirsten Kasper over the run leg to clinch victory.

In the men’s race, Spaniard Alberto Gonzalez Garcia made it two podiums from two on the World Cup circuit so far in 2024, as he kicked clear of Antonio Serrat Seoane and Kenji Nener for the win.

Rainsley takes down top opponents

The race immediately appeared to be a battle between Team GB and USA in Hong Kong, with Napier medalists Olivia Mathias and Sophie Alden leading a small group out of the water.

Alongside the two Brits, there was Rainsley, Zaferes and Kasper, plus Australian Emma Jeffcoat and Spaniard Cecilia Santamaria Surroca, as these seven started the bike with a gap on the field.

Further back, Olympians Vicky Holland and Summer Rappaport couldn’t make up the deficit, with World Junior Champion and superb runner Tilda Mansson also held at bay by the front pack’s relentless pace.

With close to half a minute lead into T2, the podium looked set to come from the group of early leaders, with Rainsley and Mathias breaking away in the opening stages of the run alongside Zaferes and Kasper.

As Mathias dropped back, the front three jockeyed for position but nothing could separate them, until Rainsley threw down an incredible surge with half a kilometre to go and kicked clear.

[Photo Credit – World Triathlon]

With a comfortable gap by the time she was on the blue carpet, the Brit could celebrate a fantastic performance and a well deserved win, as behind her Zaferes just pipped Kasper for second.

Gonzalez Garcia continues podium streak

Having finished third behind Callum McCluskey and Hayden Wilde at the World Triathlon Cup in Napier, Gonzalez Garcia was one of the hot favourites coming into this race.

Led out of the water by Hungarian Mark Devay, there was a substantial field in contention despite the choppy conditions out of the swim, with thirteen men in the front group +0:15 up from the chasers.

Alongside Devay, up front was Asian Games champion Nener, Spaniards Serrat Seoane and Gonzalez Garcia, plus Britain’s young talent Max Stapley.

Off the bike having extended their lead to over 30 seconds, it looked like the medals would be decided by this front group, with Nener the first to make a move that only the Spanish duo could respond to.

Alberto Gonzalez 🇪🇸 wins the men’s 2024 #HongKongWC in grand style, pulling an almighty kick out of the fires to leave Antonio Serrat 🇪🇸 in second, Kenji Nener 🇯🇵 hanging tough for a big season-starting bronze! pic.twitter.com/AllFWxYIMe

— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) March 24, 2024

Like Rainsley in the women’s race, Gonzalez Garcia left it late to make the decisive sprint for home, but when he did, he made it count.

Unleashing a devastating kick, the Spaniard ensured that nobody else could go with him before celebrating down the blue carpet, eventually winning by five seconds over Serrat Seoane in second and Nener in third.

World Triathlon Cup Hong Kong – Sunday March 24 2024
750m / 20km / 5km

Elite Men

1. Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP) – 53:17

2. Antonio Serrat Seoane (ESP) – 53:22

3. Kenji Nener (JPN) – 53:24

4. Luke Willian (AUS) – 53:38

5. David Cantero Del Campo (ESP) – 53:50

Elite Women

1. Sian Rainsley (GBR) – 59:44

2. Katie Zaferes (USA) – 59:53

3. Kirsten Kasper (USA) – 1:00:00

4. Elizabeth Bravo (ECU) – 1:00:07