World Triathlon Cup Huatulco: David Castro Fajardo strikes again!

Reigning European Champion David Castro Fajardo of Spain continued his winning streak this weekend with victory at the World Triathlon Cup Huatulco in Mexico.

The Spaniard beat two-time champion Tyler Mislawchuk of Canada and Mexican Aram Michell Penaflor Moysen in a thrilling sprint finish to solidify his place as one of the best candidates for a slot on the Spanish team next year at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Swim – Mislawchuk makes move

In the men’s race, Canadian Mislawchuk, in search of his third victory here in Huatulco, showed why he has been so successful here in recent years as he led out of the water on the Pacific coast.

Out alongside the Canadian, recently crowned European Champion Castro Fajardo was right there, as was Chilean Diego Maya, Chase McQueen of the USA and last year’s winner here Genis Grau of Spain.

Following the 750m sea swim, the small lead group seemed well equipped to make a break for it over the four lap bike course, with Mislawchuk in a perfect position early on to challenge for his elusive third win in Mexico.

Bike – It all comes together

With thirteen men in the front pack of the bike, including Kiwi Kyle Smith, the versatile Olympic hopeful who is well known for his bike power, it looked like the break might get away, but they ended up being reeled in as the field came together.

Jake Birtwhistle, the Australian who won IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania at the start of the season but has struggled in short course racing so far this year, was one athlete who definitely looked set to benefit from the bike coming together, as similarly to the women’s race earlier on, it all came down to the run.

With such incredible run pedigree in the pack, including Mislawchuk, who has previously won the Olympic Test Event, plus World Cup winners Castro Fajardo and Grau, the race seemed to have everything it could need to provide a thrilling finale.

Run – A thrilling battle

First out of transition, Mislawchuk got on to the front foot early on, as he was joined by Castro Fajardo, Grau and home athlete Adam Michell Penaflor Moysen over the first half of the run.

David Castro Fajardo wins Huatulco World Cup — Photo Credit – World Triathlon/Tommy Zaferes

Dropping defending champion Grau, who narrowly beat him last year, Mislawchuk looked strong but couldn’t shake Castro Fajardo and Moysen, with the Spaniard in particular, who possess a deadly kick, looking poised as they entered the final lap.

Sprinting down the blue carpet, the trio were neck and neck, with Castro Fajardo, who dispatched of Jonny Brownlee in a similar way at the European Championships in Madrid, just edging Mislawchuk for the win, with Moysen in third.

After the race, Castro Fajardo reflected on his win in Madrid as well as Huatulco and gave an insight into just how strong Spanish triathlon is right now.

“The conditions, the weather, it’s very very hard. The race is more tactical, more dangerous but the win here today is very important for the Olympic classification.

“The European Championships was very important for me to win. In my mind, it just clicked and today I just enjoyed the race, the public, the community here in Mexico. I attacked with 100m to go and I saw Tyler behind and in the last 50m I was able to push it to win.

“I currently have the third position in the Olympic ranking [amongst Spaniards]. For Spain, third is very difficult as there are seven triathletes in the fight. The most important is to enjoy the race and I am very happy.”