Hungary’s Karolina Horvath won the U23 World title in fine style on Thursday morning, taking gold in what was a thrilling start to four days of Championship Finals racing in Torremolinos. Six leaders had boiled down to three leading to a tense final 200m, but it was Horvath who had the legs to edge out Zuzana Michalickov (SVK), last year’s silver medallist Portugal’s Maria Tome with bronze.

“I was like, ‘I’m here, i’ve done the hard work to get here, I have to try it!’ said Horvath. “I knew it was my only chance and I did it. It’s magic. The first two (run) laps pace was comfortable, but I enjoyed the increase in tempo and the second half of the run was better. When the bike pack got to us I tried to rest a little for the run. Everyone on the course was cheering for me, this means everything to me.”

Denizot and Hadhoum set early pace

Strong starts from France’s Candice Denizot, Sophia Howell (CAN) and USA’s Liberty Ricca saw the field string out quickly as they headed back after the first 750m in the water, and more than 30 seconds separated the top 15 by the end of lap two.

Up the beach towards the transition, Denizot was still out front but with Howell right on her heels, 2023 Junior World Champion Ilona Hadhoum giving chase. Isabella Hayes, Katie Rodda, Marta Kropko were making tracks to get on their wheels, Nora Gmur 20s off the leader as she mounted her bike but gunning it to try and become the ninth member of the front group, Barbara De Koning leading the next of the chasers 10s further back.

Lead opens up on bike

Those first nine did come together over lap one, several small packs forming behind them, most notably with Cathia Schar working hard, splitting up the pack 40s back with Maria Tome and Brea Roderick.

That group, including race number one Zuzana Michalickova, was gaining no ground with Schar doing all the work, 1m15s to De Koning, two minutes and climbing to Maria Casals Mojica for Spain.

Schar closes the gap

At the halfway point that gap had dipped to closer to 30s, then quickly to 20s and suddenly on lap six, the packs had merged. By the end of the 40km ride it was to be Denizot and Michalickova the quickest out of T2, Gmur and Horvath quickly joining them out front.

Schar moved to the front on lap one as she, Tome, Michalickova, Gmur and Horvath put precious seconds into Denizot, Robin Driejling and Hadhoum.

Denizot fought back as Tome took charge after 5km, six athletes together, but on lap three, Gmur and then Denizot were dropped again, this time decisively, leaving one lap, four athletes, and three medals.

Maria Tome was pushing the pace, then Cathia Schar, but the Swiss couldn’t make it stick and fell back, leaving a sprint shootout for the medals. Finally, it was Horvath who was able to summon one last effort to pass Michalickova as they hot the blue carpet, the Slovakian taking silver, Tome the bronze, a disappointed Schar in fourth, Denizot fifth.

QUOTES:
Zuzana Michalickova: “Second is not bad! I really enjoyed the race, it was tough. I felt bad on the swim but every km I then started to feel better and better. The season was long and im happy to be on the podium at the end of it.”

Maria Tome: “After second last year I really wanted the gold, but Karolina was the best today. After the Olympics I became more confident, but I didn’t have a great swim. Thanks Cathia (Schar) for her work on the bike. I tried to push the pace harder on the last lap but then I didn’t have the legs for the sprint finish.”

Full results, click here.