The Hungarian upgraded his second place finish in the inaugural knockout sprint in Ibiza with a win in Setúbal after three rounds of racing.
21-year-old David Betlehem has taken a liking to the open water knockout race, a tournament style race across three rounds, beginning with 1500m, then 1000m, and finishing with 500m, with 10 minutes in between distances. The race winner is determined by the leader of the 500m race and not a cumulative race result.
Hungary’s Betlehem, who was a pool finalist at last year’s Olympics in the 1500m, has been a consistent force in this new event, winning the last round in Portugal at 6:12.00, using a track start and underwater kicks to get out in front of the field early and stay there.
On the last round, Betlehem darted to the lead to guide the pack, keeping pace with Hungarian teammate Kristof Rasovszky as they held yesterday’s 10K champion Marc-Antoine Olivier and former World champion Logan Fontaine on their feet.
Rasovszky looked to have the win on the last turn, but Betlehem pushed left and found his line into the finish, cutting into the lead of Fontaine (6:12.90) and Olivier (6:13.20), who finished second and third.
“Yeah, that was good,” Betlehem said. “That race is really enjoyable and there are a lot of things going on in the 1,000 and the 500. Like most of the time the 500 is a little bit easier. You can just have a good dolphin kick underwater and then just go on the lead or just in the 5, 6 position, but in the 1000, it can be really fast and in the 500 it's just all out.”
The water temperature was 18.5 degrees Celsius, a bit on the colder side, playing in the favour of the experienced. Strategy was key on this Sunday morning as the usual suspects finished in the top four.
“My coach (was) here in the morning and just (saw) the venue and he told me that I need to go as far as I can (on) the left side because the water is going that way and I can swim faster there,” Betlehem said. “And he said ‘maybe a lot of people will go to the right side.’ So, if I go on the left side, nobody will follow me and I have the closing speed like in the pool as well. So, if I'm in the left side alone, maybe I can go faster than if somebody is fighting with me on the right side. So, I was like, ‘okay, maybe I (can) try it and after the last turn, I saw that all the French guys go to the right side and Kristof was next to me and I know Kristof won't hurt me. So, I was like, okay, like I have 90 meters left. So, I just need to push and I saw that I (was) getting a gap between me and Kristof."
"So, I knew that I'm faster than all the French guys on the right. So yeah, it was a tactic game"
France had two on the podium as well as two others in the final.
“Yeah, I'm happy,” Fontaine said. “I know I could win the gold, but we slow down Marc-Antoine and me, maybe my fault, and so David can sneak on the left and take the win.”
“The plan was to rest on the first 1500. And after, I know the placement on the pontoon is very important because there (is) a lot of current. And so I want to be in the inside for the all the book.
“I'm not a great starter. I like to chase and Kristof has a really great start with the beginning in the water. So, I just try to manage to stay on their feet and to kick hard on the last 100.”
Although Betlehem has been a mainstay on the international scene the last few years, this is his first World Cup win in his career.
“I don't really like the cold water, so I kind of push the 1500 as well,” Betlehem said. “So, I was first in my heat and then the 1000 I was like, yeah, I need to push at least so I won't be cold when I'm sitting outside. So, I was pushing the 1000 as well and just to be in the first three so I can choose a great spot for the 500. And I mean, it's good. If you push a little bit in the 1000, you get in warm up for the 500.”
Italy’s Dario Verani, who was on Betlehem’s feet in round one and two, finished fourth at 6:14.80, but was disqualified after video review of the finish. Fellow Italian Andrea Filadelli (6:15.10) finished behind him as Rasovszky faded to fifth at 6:15.70.
France had a big presence in Setúbal with Sacha Velly (6:17.70) and Jules Wallart (6:18.80) finishing sixth and seventh, respectively, while Dylan Gravley (6:20.00) of the United States and Matheus Melecchi (6:20.30) of Brazil rounded out the field.
The attention now shifts to the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on July 15 with the women’s 10K, with the men’s race following on July 16 local time.
The final World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup race will be in Golfo Aranci, Italy, October 10 & 11.
Contributing: Lydia Ferrari Kehoe