Lisa Tertsch and Davide Menichelli win duathlon world titles in Abu Dhabi

German triathlete Lisa Tertsch managed her final effort perfectly to take the 2026 world duathlon title, on a scorching morning that opened the first day of the World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi.

After a tactical opening 5 km run and a 30 km bike leg fought out in the wind, the German and Russia's Diana Isakova, who had won the day before at the local WTCS, broke clear of the pack on the second 5 km run. But the Russian had no answer when Tertsch kicked 200 metres from the line, and had to settle for a fine silver medal. Dutchwoman Jasmijn Bakker completes the women's podium.

I wasn't surprised to find the two of us out front, and I wanted to put in a good race after my little disappointment yesterday. I had recovered well. Doing two races back to back was a new experience, but it went pretty well. I was aware of the heat: you just have to look after yourself in these conditions.

A tactical race until the final kilometres

The pace was uneven over the first 5 km run, a very tactical affair. Spain's Maria Varo was the first to try to push on, while the rest of the field switched between the stretches with a little shade and the inside lines on the long curves of the course.

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Heading into the first transition, Lisa Tertsch gradually raised the tempo. Maria Varo managed to follow, as did Jasmijn Bakker, Belgium's Jeanne Dupont and Diana Isakova. The top ten were separated by just six seconds, but legs were already starting to feel heavy as they hit the bike.

Eight up front after the bike, two of them French

A group of seven got away, including France's Emma Wasser and Jasmijn Bakker, who worked to stretch their lead to 30 seconds at the halfway point of the 30 km. The other French athlete, Fiona Cornet put in a remarkable solo effort to bridge across. Eight women were therefore together heading into the second transition. The pace eased slightly, each of them preparing mentally and physically for a decisive final 5 km with the medals at stake.

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

Lisa Tertsch came quickly into transition alongside Diana Isakova. The Russian was out first, and Maria Varo also joined the fight from the opening metres of this last run. The three immediately lifted the pace. Fiona Cornet paid for her efforts on the bike and dropped off, while Jeanne Dupont and France's Meghan Bazire managed to stay in touch with the podium positions.

Then Jasmijn Bakker and Jeanne Dupont closed on Maria Varo, who was starting to struggle with the pace over the last two kilometres. Up front, the battle for gold was shaping up between the top two.

Lisa Tertsch stayed on Diana Isakova's heels for most of the last lap, then kicked again 200 metres from the line. Sensing she could get the better of her rival, the German launched a decisive attack and flew away to her first world duathlon title.

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Diana Isakova takes silver five seconds back, with Jasmijn Bakker claiming bronze. Jeanne Dupont finishes fourth and Maria Varo fifth.

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The French women all finished in the top eight, with Meghan Bazire sixth, Emma Wasser seventh and Fiona Cornet eighth.

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

Davide Menichelli goes solo and takes the world title

In the men's race, a monumental bike breakaway by Davide Menichelli gave the young Italian a brilliant world duathlon title, with gold in both the elite and U23 categories.

Off like a shot out of the first transition, Davide Menichelli rode alone for more than half of the 30 km bike leg. Belgium's Martin Oldenhove eventually made the junction. The two worked together perfectly, helped by the chasers' lack of reaction. Their lead reached a minute and proved impossible to close. France's Adrien Pilleux nonetheless produced a fine comeback in the finale to take the bronze medal.

I can't describe what I'm feeling. I came here with ambitions and I knew I could try a breakaway, but I never thought I'd open such a gap and win the race. I know I'm a good cyclist and that's how I race. I like to suffer, and today was the perfect day for it.

A decisive break from the first transition

Reigning world champion Benjamin Choquert of France took control in the opening moments of the first 5 km run. Belgians Jonathan Wayaffe and Arnaud Dely were also well placed, but a compact group of fifteen was still together when Davide Menichelli decided to attack.

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The Italian pushed the pace just before the first transition and caught everyone off guard by darting off on the bike.

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He held his lead through the bike leg. At the halfway point, Belgium's Martin Oldenhove was 25 seconds back, while a group including Arnaud Dely and Benjamin Choquert already trailed by 40 seconds.

Martin Oldenhove put in a huge effort to get back to Davide Menichelli on the third lap. The two then worked together perfectly to stretch their lead to a minute over the chasers heading into the second transition.

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

But after only 1,500 metres of running, the Italian already had fifteen seconds on his breakaway partner. Russia's Dmitrii Karpeev then settled into third. Belgians Jonathan Wayaffe and Arnaud Dely couldn't close the gap, while Benjamin Choquert, two minutes down, had already lost any chance of getting back into the fight for the title.

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

At the bell, Davide Menichelli still looked the strongest. The Italian started the last lap alone, rewarded for his bold strategy of attacking on the bike. Martin Oldenhove's help in that final stretch may well have been decisive. The Belgian ultimately held off a late charge from France's Adrien Pilleux to keep second, while the Frenchman took bronze thanks to an excellent finish. Fellow Frenchmen Emile Blondel Hermant finished 6th, and Benjamin Choquert 18th.

© World Triathlon