Hvar in Croatia is the first event each year for the ÖtillÖ Swimrun World Series and the beautiful images from this event might entice you to race there next year, go on a vacation in Hvar, or actually do both.

But here now to the pictures shot by Pierre Mangez for ÖtillÖ.

Before the race the Pontus Lindberg and George Bjälkemo of Team Garmin helped out with some pre-race images and sponsor stuff. In the inaugural event in 2017 they finished 3rd, and they won the 2016 and 2017 ÖtillÖ Swimrun 1000 Lakes in Germany.

Early on in the race the athletes were still tightly bunched and the distinctive California SwimRun duo of Andy Hewitt and Daemon Anastas (bib 9) still in the mix - and clearly not scared of the cold water.

The blue water here is magnificent, but it appears that everyone in the race is busy to get back on land.

It usually does not take very long in SwimRun races for the field to spread out.

Pontus Lindberg and George Bjälkemo led early on and show the teams nearby how it is done to get back in the water.

Getting out early during this swim section would require some superb climbing gear and skills.

ÖtillÖ Hvar has a very long almost 3km swim section among the 9 swim segments that total 8.8km.

Battling for position at the front of the race.

Swedes Peter Aronsson and Fredrik Axegård of Team Swimshop.se on the way to second place overall. The 10 runs total in this race add up to 40.4km and the longest run segment is almost 14km long.

The French team of Marylise Pensart and Franck Martin of Team Head SR pushing up a hill. Their total time of 5:56:36 meant 5th place in the mixed division.

Nicolas Remires and Guillaume Heneman of Team Envol in full flight during one of the 9 swim segments. The French team ended up up in 3rd place overall.

A nice underwater study of a team in action in Croatia.

Back in the water we go. This French mixed team ended up 9th in their division in 6:37:23.

Linnéa Olausson and Cassandra Eliasson descending down some stairs on the way to the next swim. This Swedish team finished 6th in 7:56:22.

The ÖtillÖ flag marks another swim exit and helps counting down to the finish.

The women's division was captured by Fanny Danckwardt and Desirée Andersson of Team Envol in 5:53:52

Pontus Lindberg and George Bjälkemo captured the 2018 men's title in 5:15:41

2018 ÖtillÖ Hvar results
Hvar, Croatia - April 8, 2018

Women

1. Fanny Danckwardt and Desirée Andersson (SWE) Team Envol 5:53:52
2. Renee Huuva and Charlotte Erikson (SWE) YO Running Club 6:35:54
3. Anneli Wall and Jenny Ramstedt (SWE) Team Envol 6:51:25

Mixed

1. Martin Flinta (SWE) and Helena Karaskova Erbenova (CZE) Thule Crew 5:34:07
2. Stefano Prestinoni and Annika Ericsson (SWE) Team Swimshop.se 5:37:06
3. Helena Sivertsson and Fredrik Granström (SWE) Team Grinderman 5:50:15

Men

1. George Bjälkemo and Pontus Lindberg (SWE) Team Garmin 5:15:41
2. Peter Aronsson and Fredrik Axegård (SWE) Team Swimshop.se 5:20:15
3. Nicolas Remires and Guillaume Heneman (FRA) Team Envol 5:27:49