Vincent Luis heroic in Hamburg to become 2020 World Champion

Monday 07 September 2020

The field was deep with talent and experience and the race always looked like being hugely unpredictable given the past 6 months, but it was to be France’s Vincent Luis who delivered a composed sprint-distance performance and a brilliant second consecutive world title at the 2020 Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon. After an excellent swim had helped put him in a front bike pack that included Alistair Brownlee and another Frenchman Dorian Coninx, it was on the run that the 2019 champion was able to pull away with only teammate Leo Bergere and Portuguese Vasco Vilaça for company, the 20-year-old holding on for a brilliant silver in only his second WTS outing.

“I knew I was in good shape and i’ve spent the last six weeks doing a lot of sessions with some of the best guys in the world,” said a thrilled Vincent Luis afterwards. “I swam good and when you have the two Brownlee brothers with you you always have a good chance to get away. I had the two young guys with me on the run so I was a bit scared but pushed the pace with one lap to go. Im so happy for Leo that he took the third spot. That was a great race for France.” ?
The weather had calmed considerably from the wet and windy conditions leading up to the start time, the lake waters flat for the 750m swim. ??As the athletes’ masks were discarded, the pre-race protocols were complete and number one Vincent Luis set himself on the edge of the pontoon for the fastest line to the first buoy. He was quickly out towards the front of the 66-strong field, Austria’s ?Alois Knabl also going well, while Britain’s Alistair Brownlee was showing his determination from his 66 start number to pull to the front.

Brownlee and Luis were shoulder to shoulder at the first turn and then the Frenchman pulled ahead of Knabl and started to stretch things out across the second half of the swim. Germany’s Jonas ??Schomburg was right on Jonathan Brownlee’s heels too, but for the final 250m straight it was Ali and the home favourite spearing the water and out first up the steps into transition.

Jelle Geens (BEL), Richard Murray (RSA) and Alex Yee (GBR) emerged 14 seconds back, Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) a further 7 seconds behind them, and it was a sad end for teammate Casper Stornes whose wetsuit issues took him out of the race.

In true style it was Ali Brownlee taking to the front over the first stages of the bike to drive the pace and he was soon caught by his brother and the French trio of Luis, Coninx and Bergere, Portugal’s Vilaca had delivered a brilliant swim and worked hard to join them alongside home favourite Justus Nieschlag and Hungary’s Mark Devay. Barclay Izzard (GBR) and Schomburg soon felt the pace and dropped back to join the growing group of chasers. ?
That hungry pack was 18 seconds behind in the early stages and led by Murray, but the smaller lead group was well organised round the hairpins and managed to increase the lead to 21 seconds at the halfway point.

With Blummenfelt making his way to the front and soon driving the chase group of over thirty athletes including Murray, Geens, Yee, Shachar Sagiv (ISR) and Mario Mola (ESP), they were able to cut the gap to a more manageable 15 seconds with two laps to go, but that was as good as it would get.

Alistair Brownlee was into the shoes first right at the back of T2, but by the time he was out of transition, Vilaça and Bergere were already into their stride. Luis bridged up to them while the Brit fell back and then his brother was soon caught by Geens and Blummenfelt as they put the hammer down immediately to try and keep the leaders in reach.

For much of the run it looked a lost cause, Luis, Bergere and Vilaça comfortable and maintaining a 13-second lead with 1500m to go. Geens then made a bold move to try and pile on some pressure, Yee also motoring his way into position, bit nobody could do anything to impact on the podium places.

With 350m to go, the small gap Luis carved out grew bigger with every pace, while behind him it was Portugal’s Vilaça who had the final move in the battle for silver, edging out Leo Bergere to the bronze.

Sure enough, Geens had reduced the deficit to 9 seconds as he finished in fourth, Yee with fifth place. Dorian Coninx, Richard Murray, Morgan Pearson (USA), Alistair Brownlee, and Max Studer (SUI) closing out the top 10.
?“I don’t know where that came from”, admitted a delighted Vaco Vilaça. “It’s my second WTS, i’m 20 years old, and it’s a dream to race here with these guys and to be at the front too… It’s taking a while to sink in. I was well prepared but didn’t really expect to be in the top three. Ive been working so hard on my swim and I worked hard to catch up with the first group on the bike and was able to keep up the pace on the run. Running like that with Vincent and Leo there was absolutely beautiful.”?
A magnanimous Leo Bergere celebrated his first WTS podium but was quick to respect those athletes who had not been able to travel to Germany. “Even if it was a special day, we don’t forget our rivals in Australia and New Zealand and there’ll be work to do to beat them next year, but I’m so glad how it went. We worked well together on the bike, and it’s great to share the podium with my good friend Vince and a pure talent like Vasco. ?
Elite Men
1. Vincent Luis    FRA 00:49:13
2. Vasco Vilaca    POR 00:49:15
3. Léo Bergere    FRA 00:49:18
4. Jelle Geens    BEL 00:49:22
5. Alex Yee    GBR 00:49:24

by Doug Gray ITU Triathlon (Photo: Tommy Zaferes/ITU Media)


Coming Triathlon Events View all

Frysman

Reaklif, Warns, Netherlands

Laponia Triathlon

Gällivare, Sweden

Stone Extreme

Lago d'Iseo / Passo Paradiso, Italy

Swedeman Xtreme

Östernoren, Sweden

Odyssey

St Neots, United Kingdom

Challenge Roth

Roth, Germany

Altriman

les Angles, Pyrenees, France

eagleXman

Assergi, Italy

TriBourne 226

Eastbourne, United Kingdom

Kaike triathlon

Yonago, Tottori, Japan

Ironman Vitoria Gasteiz

Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain

Ironman Lake Placid

Lake Placid, United States

Ironman Leeds

Leeds, United Kingdom

Ironman Canada Ottawa

Ottowa, Canada

Ironman Kalmar Sweden

Kalmar, Sweden

Ironman Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark

Ironman Tallinn

Tallinn, Estonia

Ironman Switzerland

Thun, Switzerland

Ironman Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Ironman Japan South Hokkaido

Hokkaido, Japan

Tri Tour El Pont de Suert

El Pont de Suert, Spain

La Tour Geneve

Geneve, Switzerland

Garmin Tri Tour Elblag

Elblag, Poland

Great White North

Hubbles Lake, Alberta, Canada

Outlaw Half Holkham

Holkham Hall, Norfolk, United Kingdom

Oravaman

Zuberec, Slovakia

Cotswold Classic

Ashton Keynes, United Kingdom

Door Country Half

Egg Harbor, WI, United States

Garmin Tri Tour Sycow

Sycow, Poland

Sourdough Triathlon

Chatanika, Alaska, United States

70.3 Muskoka

Huntsville, Ontario, Canada

70.3 Jonkoping

Jönköping, Sweden

70.3 Muncie

Muncie, Indiana, United States

70.3 Luxembourg

Remich, Luxembourg

70.3 Swansea

Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

70.3 Musselman

Geneva NY, United States

70.3 Ohio

Sandusky, United States

70.3 Oregon

Salem OR, United States

70.3 Ecuador

Manta, Ecuador

70.3 Boise

Boise Idaho, United States

Triathlon News & Media Blogs View all

World Champions, Olympians, Roth Legends At CHALLENGE Roth 2025

World Champions, Olympians, Roth Legends At CHALLENGE Roth 2025

Thursday 03 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

World champions, Roth winners, Olympians, European champions, local heroes, Paralympic champions – they're all in Roth! The 2025 professional field is more diverse than ever before. Whether it's a debut or a comeback, seasoned veterans, final races or new faces: 6 July promises to be a triathlon festival full of surprises. The professional field is led by the two Ironman world champions Laura Philipp and Sam Laidlow. more

IRONMAN Announces New Performance-Based Age-Group Qualification System for World Championships

IRONMAN Announces New Performance-Based Age-Group Qualification System for World Championships

Wednesday 02 Jul 2025 [Triathlon News]

IRONMAN, the global leader in triathlon, today announced a new performance-based age group qualification system for its IRONMAN World Championship® and IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship events, beginning with the 2026 qualifying cycle. Based on extensive research, testing, and feedback from athletes, the new qualifying system is designed to reward athletes based entirely on how competitive they are relative to their age group and gender. more

Marten van Riel & Jess Learmonth Win 70.3 Nice France

Marten van Riel & Jess Learmonth Win 70.3 Nice France

Sunday 29 Jun 2025 [Triathlon News]

Van Riel's Dominance: Marten Van Riel controlled the men's race from the swim, building a significant lead on the bike and maintaining it through the run. This win also qualified him for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Marbella. Michele Bortolamedi (ITA) finished second, and Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen (DEN) took third. more

Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) Claims Second European Title at Thrilling 21st Edition IRONMAN Frankfurt

Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) Claims Second European Title at Thrilling 21st Edition IRONMAN Frankfurt

Sunday 29 Jun 2025 [Triathlon News]

The IRONMAN European Championship for professional men took place in Frankfurt today, making the 11th race of the IRONMAN Pro Series. In a nail-biting race right up to the bitter end, it was Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt who took the tape, claiming his second straight win in Frankfurt, and second regional IRONMAN Championship title this year. more

Kaindland & Jansen Win CHALLENGE Kaiserwinkl Walchsee

Kaindland & Jansen Win CHALLENGE Kaiserwinkl Walchsee

Sunday 29 Jun 2025 [Triathlon News]

A tough and hot day of racing in the Austrian Alps saw career-defining wins for Austrian Olympian, Tjebbe Kaindl, and Laura Jansen (GER) as they both took their first professional wins over the middle distance in 3:46:19 and 4:15:15 respectively. The pro women kicked the day off with Therese Feuersinger (AUT) dominating the swim in 24:13, posting the fastest swim split of the day, more

Facebook


YouTube


Sign up for FREE NEWSLETTER:

We will never share your email address or spam you.