Men's Heats: Van Riel Recovers From Early Stumble As Big Guns Go Through

Men’s Heats: Van Riel Recovers From Early Stumble As Big Guns Go Through

Two-time champion Marten Van Riel had to produce a big Stage 2 to ensure qualification for the finals of Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift in Munich after a shaky start.

Van Riel, who won back-to-back Arena Games in 2021, struggled with his shoes in Stage 1 and dived in for Stage 2’s pursuit start in fifth place. However, he manage to overcome his deficit with a huge swim and went on to finish second to the dominant Aurelian Raphael and secure and an automatic qualification for the final along with Italy’s Gianluca Pozzatti who was two seconds ahead of Chase McQueen.

As in the women’s qualifying, the two fastest losers both came from Heat 1 with Chase McQueen joined in the final by fifth place Max Stapley.

Heat 2 was a more straightforward affair for the big favourite Alex Yee. He did enough to win with gas still in the tank. Fellow Brit Gordon Benson, who impressed in Arena Games action in London in 2021, stuck with him most of the way for second while Justus Nieschlag, the 2020 champion, was third in what was somewhat of a shut-out.