Mosley exceeds his expectations in Pembroke Duathlon

As Guernsey triathlon top dog Lewis returned to racing with a podium in Wales, Mosley was winning the Pembroke Duathlon from two other proteges of the Island Games champion’s Entire coaching group – Chris Norman and Thierry Le Cheminant.

This first multi-sport win has boosted Mosley’s confidence of challenging big names like James Travers once the mainstream triathlon season begins.

Last weekend, Travers assumed race director duties and then lined up for the opening three-mile run as the competitor with by far the best win record.

But the sharp end was soon awash with Entire’s stylish pink attire as 16-year-old Le Cheminant and the fast-improving Norman set a hot pace up front. Mosley was heading a chase group that included Travers.

After lap one of two, Mosley was operating in clear third, which he maintained to transition but with a 50sec. deficit on the neck-and-neck Norman and Le Cheminant.

Yet Mosley was playing the hunted once they had returned from the 20-mile cycle to Portelet and back.

Mosley had taken the lead at Vazon on the headwind return leg, hitting final transition in first and with Le Cheminant looming 35sec. behind, Norman another few ticks back.

Over 1.5 more run miles, could Mosley hang on?

Absolutely, and then some. He found his run legs immediately and strode home in 1hr 19min. 3sec. overall, still 35sec. clear of runner-up, now in the form of Norman.

Norman dropped Le Cheminant by 10sec. as Travers placed a more distant fourth and Ove Svejstrup fifth.

‘Really good – wasn’t expecting it today,’ a shocked Mosley said.

‘I knew my bike had been going well over winter training, so I thought I had a chance of catching them. I didn’t expect to get past them.

‘“Trav” didn’t come past me, which was a good sign.

‘That was the first time I’ve run off the bike this year, but the run leg felt good and it was quite surprising.’

Mosley expects a ‘different ball game’ come triathlon time, courtesy of Travers’ strong swim. But?

‘I’m looking forward to that challenge.

‘I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t want to try and win – I definitely feel all three aspects have come on again so far this year.

‘Obviously, swim, we had lockdown and pools were shut, so I’m trying to build that up again, but that’s allowed me to focus on bike and run.

‘A few were back in [the pool] earlier than I was due to work commitments.

‘But I think us Entire boys will be in the mix around the top three a bit more this season. Thierry can do Olympic distance this season so it will be interesting to see how he transitions.’

The women’s race proved more straightforward – gun-to-tape victory for Megan Chapple.

Amy Critchlow was her only realistic challenger, but due to coaching duties, she opted for the half-distance variant and peeled off early.

The Gibraltar 2019 silver medallist completed the first run highly placed and eventually finished a strong 10th overall, clocking 1-27-07.

The improving Sammy Yendell placed second, 7min. behind, while Izzie Grierson edged Claire Allen for the final podium spot despite the absence of her favoured swim discipline.

Such up-and-coming triathletes will take elevated standing once Chapple returns to London later this month, but there was one clear winner last weekend.

‘I was quite comfortable on the first run, and I knew that the bike would be tough, so I gave it everything on the last run,’ Chapple said.

‘I’m happy, and it would have been interesting if Amy had done the full distance, and Emily [Squire] is not racing at the moment as well, so it’s a shame not to have the top girls to add some sort of competition to it.

‘I always run with Ove and he’s a good guy to run with because we’re about the same speed, and then I broke away.

‘On the bike, it’s really difficult and you’re not meant to ride with anyone anyway... it’s anybody’s game.’