Spain celebrated another major success at the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup in Ibiza, as Xavi Cabanilles won the men's elite race and Genís Grau secured second place at Santa Eulària des Riu on Sunday, 1 November.
Cabanilles crossed the finish line in 51 minutes and 31 seconds, five seconds ahead of his compatriot Grau, who recorded 51:36. French triathlete Achille Besson completed the podium, also with a recorded time of 51:36.
The result gave Spain its second double podium of the day. Earlier, Sara Guerrero had taken silver and Cristina Jiménez-Orta bronze in the women's competition, bringing Spain's medal tally to four across the two elite races.
Cabanilles Makes His Move in the Final Stages
The men's sprint-distance race was closely contested, with the leading athletes remaining within reach of one another through much of the competition.
Genís Grau produced the fastest swim among the eventual podium finishers, completing the opening segment in 8:53. Besson followed in 9:00, while Cabanilles emerged from the water 14 seconds behind Grau.
The race changed during the cycling section. Cabanilles produced the strongest cycling split among the three medal winners, recording 26:14, compared with 26:34 for Besson and 26:36 for Grau.
That effort brought him into contention for the victory before the final running segment.
Besson recorded the fastest run of the three podium finishers, but Cabanilles maintained his advantage and completed the race in 51:31. Grau finished five seconds later, with Besson also recording 51:36.
Men's Podium at the Ibiza European Triathlon Cup
| Position |
Athlete |
Country |
Time |
| 1 |
Xavi Cabanilles |
Spain |
51:31 |
| 2 |
Genís Grau |
Spain |
51:36 |
| 3 |
Achille Besson |
France |
51:36 |
Although Grau and Besson recorded the same time, Grau was classified second and Besson third.
Four Spanish Athletes in the Top Eight
Spain's strong performance extended beyond the two medals.
Esteban Basanta finished sixth in 51:50, while Pau Noguera took eighth place in 51:51. Their results meant four Spanish athletes finished among the first eight competitors.
The leading ten athletes were separated by just 22 seconds, underlining how competitive the men's race was.
A First Elite European Cup Victory for Cabanilles
The victory in Ibiza marked an important milestone for Xavi Cabanilles, giving the Valencian triathlete his first win in an elite-category Europe Triathlon Cup.
The result followed an impressive junior campaign, including victory at the Junior European Cup in Torremolinos. Cabanilles had also competed in senior international events, gaining experience against established athletes on the European circuit.
His performance in Santa Eulària demonstrated his ability to recover ground after the swim and convert a strong cycling segment into a race-winning position.
Genís Grau Adds Another International Podium
Genís Grau's second place provided another significant result for the experienced Spanish triathlete.
The Catalan athlete had already recorded strong performances on the international circuit during 2026, including fifth place at the Europe Triathlon Premium Cup in Holten.
In Ibiza, his strong swim placed him among the early leaders. He remained in contention throughout the race and secured silver after a closely fought finish with Besson.
Four Medals for Spain in Santa Eulària
The men's result completed an exceptional day for Spanish triathlon at the European Cup in Ibiza.
In the women's elite race, Czech athlete Heidi Juránková won gold in 57:13. Spain's Sara Guerrero finished second in 57:45, while Cristina Jiménez-Orta took third in 57:57.
Combined with Cabanilles' men's victory and Grau's silver, Spain collected four medals across the two elite competitions.
The event in Santa Eulària des Riu brought the 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup season to Ibiza, placing the island at the centre of an international sporting competition and delivering a memorable result for the Spanish team.
Ibiza European Triathlon Cup 2026: Men's Race Details
Event: 2026 Europe Triathlon Cup Santa Eulària des Riu
Date: Sunday, 1 November 2026
Location: Santa Eulària des Riu, Ibiza
Race format: Sprint distance
Men's podium:
-
Gold: Xavi Cabanilles (Spain), 51:31.
-
Silver: Genís Grau (Spain), 51:36.
-
Bronze: Achille Besson (France), 51:36.
Other Spanish results:
Spain finished the Ibiza European Cup with four medals from the two elite races, including two gold and silver positions in the men's and women's competitions.