Maurine Ricour crossed the line first to win in Târgu Mureș with Arnaud Dely ©World Triathlon

Belgian duo Arnaud Dely and Maurine Ricour were in exceptional form to win the first ever duathlon 2x2 mixed relay world title at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Târgu Mureș.

The pair combined to finish the four-leg race after 1hr 12min 20sec on a hot afternoon in the city centre.

Italy's Alberto Bartolomeo Demarchi and Giorgia Priarone then secured silver with 1:12:26 before France's Krilan Le Bihan and Marion Le Goff claimed bronze in 1:12:38.

 

Dely, fellow Belgian Thibaut De Smet and The Netherlands' Daan De Groot had all delivered strong first legs and the in-form Priarone exhibited blistering pace along the super-sprint course along with teammate Demarchi, but a devastating third leg breakaway by Dely proved decisive on the way to victory.

That move and a strong final leg from teammate Ricour allowed her the space needed to bring home the gold, just holding off Priarone’s late charge.

Despite missing out on the podium places, The Netherlands second team of De Groot and Ann Schoot Uiterkamp will be happy with their performance as they finished fourth ahead of first-string compatriots Thomas Cremers and Noor Dekker.

The race marks the end of the action in Romania but the World Triathlon Multisport Championships are set to return in Samorin in Slovakia from August 18 to 21.