Spanish pro Emilio Martín managed to transit from running shoes onto his STEVENS Arcalis and back the fastest. The two-time Duathlon World Champion added the title of European Champion to his list at the end of April in Soria.
10 – 40 – 5: It took Emilio Martín only 1:46 hours to complete the classic short distance in duathlon racing in Soria, Spain. The 34 year old ran the first ten kilometers in about 30 minutes, rushed over the bike course in just 59 minutes on STEVENS Arcalis and sped the final five kilometers to the finish line in a little more than 15 minutes.
This performance earned the Spaniard his first Championship title ahead of the two Frenchmen Benoit Nicolas and Yohan Le Berre: “Soria is some kind of lucky charm to me“, he said after the race. “It was here where I won my first Spanish Championship in 2011, now I succeeded in winning the European Championship here.“
The end of the race had long been unpredictable, though. A small group consisting of a handful of athletes had taken the lead – and Emilio Martín hesitated for a long time to set himself ahead of them: “I often was about to attack, but then decided against doing so as the group worked together nicely. Therefore I waited fort he last part of the race which really was a gamble, but I felt good“, he told online portal Practico Deporte after the race that he won nine seconds ahead of the runner-up. “I am very competitive and fight till the last moment. I will always do it like this, until I retire.“
The multiple Spanish Champion won’t waste a thought on retirement after this triumph, though. He will first be focusing non a Grand Prix race in France and then finally: „“take a little break“, says Martín.