Nearly 400 people are participating this weekend in the third edition of the Desafío 8º Isla, which kicked off on Saturday morning with the celebration of the cross triathlon. Stephen Bayliss and the Spanish Saleta Castro are emerging as candidates for the final victory, which they will have to confirm on Sunday with the 31-kilometer trail. Saturday's event served to proclaim Jim Thiss and Saleta Castro as winners of the cross triathlon category. In the team category, the winners were the members of "Los Corbinas".
An unbeatable sporting atmosphere was experienced on Sunday morning in Caleta de Sebo (La Graciosa). The Desafío 8º Isla is a unique sporting event that is becoming consolidated in the Lanzarote sporting calendar. After 11:00 am, the swimming segment started, with the participants placing themselves on the ramp of the La Graciosa dock. Once the swimming was over, the participants had to face 20 kilometers by bicycle and finish with 6 kilometers of running.
The bicycle segment took place in the north and west of La Graciosa, with very sandy areas that tested the physical endurance of the participants. And the running took place along the southwest coast of La Graciosa, with very soft ground. What was not lacking throughout the test was the encouragement of fans, family and friends, who gave a lot of color to the cross triathlon of the III Desafío 8º Isla.
In the men's category, the victory in the cross triathlon category went to Jim Thiss with a time of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 16 seconds. He was 21 seconds ahead of Víctor del Corral and third would be Stephen Bayliss (1:18:45). Miguel Ángel Duque crossed the finish line in seventh position, becoming the best Lanzarote native in the race. Miguel Ángel Duque recorded a time of 1:23:31.
In the women's category, the victory went to the Galician Saleta Castro with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes and 30 seconds. The podium was completed with the second position of Yvonne Van Vlerken (1:34:34) and third would be Lucía Funes (1:44:43). And in the team category the triumph was for "Los Cabosos".
After the first stage of the III Desafío 8º Isla, the leadership of the men's category is for Stephen Bayliss, ahead of León Martín and Miguel Ángel Duque. Positions that they must confirm on Sunday in the 31-kilometer trail. In the women's category, the leadership is for Saleta Castro, ahead of Lucía Funes and Rita Delgado. On Sunday there will also be a 20-kilometer trail race, this modality being the one with the highest number of registered participants.
