🏆 Mario Mola conquers his second triathlon world title
The Balearic triathlete Mario Mola has done it again. Last weekend he was crowned Triathlon World Champion for the second consecutive year, confirming his dominance in one of the most demanding sports on the international scene.
Mola arrived at the last race of the circuit, held in Rotterdam, with a considerable advantage. He only needed to finish among the top five to clinch the title, and he left no room for doubt: he crossed the finish line in a solid third position, thus sealing his second world championship.
🚴 A demanding cycling segment, not suitable for just any bike
Although the race went by without major surprises, the cycling segment sparked some debate among participants. The urban course in Rotterdam featured cobblestone sections, very tight corners, and narrow stretches that even coincided with the bike lane shared with cars, an unusual setup for events at this level.
This type of course, more typical of a mountain bike due to its technical complexity, had to be tackled with triathlon competition bikes, very similar to a road bike in their geometry and aerodynamic characteristics. Even so, the triathletes demonstrated their skill by overcoming the difficulties of the terrain without any noteworthy incidents.
🥇 Mola, legend of modern triathlon
With this new title, Mario Mola consolidates his status as a historic figure in international triathlon. His ability to perform at the highest level in swimming, carrera on foot and especially in technical cycling sections — where skills typical of both a road bike and a mountain bike are combined — make him one of the most complete athletes in the world.
There is no doubt that Mario Mola has been the absolute dominator of this 2017 World Championship. The Mallorcan has won four of the nine events that make up the World Series and has been on the podium in another. The runner-up spot went to Javier Gómez Noya, who arrived in Rotterdam just a few days after winning the Half Ironman World Championship. Spanish triathlon is today the global benchmark. This is reflected in the record of the last five editions of the World Championship, with 3 titles for Gómez Noya (2013, 2014, and 2015), 2 for Mario Mola (2016 and 2017), and five other podiums, including Fernando Alarza's third place last year.