Davide Giardini of Italy and Lauren Goss of the U.S. won the elite titles at the half distance Challenge San Gil Queretaro.

Men

Giardini combined race-best 23:38 swim, a race-fastest 2:15:32 bike split and a 9th-best 1:23:28 run to finish in 4:07:07, with a 1:33 margin of victory over Nathan Killam of Canada and 4:44 over 3rd-place finisher Vinicio Ibarra of Mexico.

“Stoked on my first professional win at Challenge San Gil, Mexico!” he wrote on Facebook. “Led from the gun with fastest swim fastest bike for a big gap and at last a decent run.”

After a 15th-best 27:19 swim, a 2nd-fastest 2:15:54 bike split and a 7th-fastest 1:21:36 run, Nathan Killam of Canada was happy with his 2nd place finish. “Phew, what a day of racing!” he wrote on Facebook. “Stoked to come away with second place next to über swimmer/biker Davide Giardini at Challenge San Gil! It was a tough day of chances, leaving it all out there to try for the win, but after suffering for most the day at 6,500 feet altitude, I'm stoked to improve my 3rd place from last year!”

Women

Lauren Goss defended her 2015 crown with a women’s-best 25:09 swim, women’s 2nd-best 1:54:32 bike split and women’s best 1:26:20 run to finish in 4:36:41, with a 5:56 margin of victory over runner-up Palmira Alvarez of Mexico and 10:06 over 3rd-place Carolina Furriela of Mexico.

Goss was quite ready for the 6500 to 8000 foot altitude on the San Gil bike course thanks to her experience living and training in mile high and above Boulder, Colorado.

Challenge San Gil Queretaro
San Gil, Queretaro, Mexico
July 3, 2016
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.

Results

Men

1. Davide Giardini (ITA) 4:07:07
2. Nathan Killam (CAN) 4:09:40
3. Vinicio Ibarra (MEX) 4:11:51
4. Arturo Garza Heiras (MEX) 4:12:56
5. Sergio Sarmiento (MEX ) 4:14:22
6. A.J. Baucco (USA) 4:15:51

Women

1. Lauren Goss (USA) 4:36:41
2. Palmira Alvarez (MEX) 4:42:37
3. Carolina Furriela (BRA) 4:46:47
4. Julia Grant (NZL) 4:53:06
5. Fabiola Corona (MEX) 4:58:27