Frenchman Baptiste Domanico and German Merle Brunnée win the Powerman Zofingen 2025 and secure the duathlon world championship title over the long distance (10 km / 150 km / 30 km). Shortly after changing onto the bike, defending champion Émile Blondel-Hermant from France dropped out with a flat tire. The competition to succeed him as long-distance world champion was then launched. Frenchman Baptiste Domanico took the lead on the bike course and never relinquished it until the end. The silver medal went to the surprisingly fast Dane Silas Engel Lambaek. Bronze went to the German Fabian Holbach, who overtook the Swiss Jens-Michael Gossauer shortly before the end. Meanwhile, Merle Brunnée took her fourth world championship title in Zofingen. The German took the lead at the start of the bike course and then celebrated an unchallenged victory. The silver medal was won by Rachel Brown from Great Britain in her Zofingen premiere and third place went to Madlen Kappeler from Germany. The races took place in sunny weather and pleasantly warm temperatures.
“It was my day today,” said the new long-distance world champion Baptiste Domanico after crossing the finish line with a winning time of 6 hours 6 minutes 50 seconds. The 34-year-old Frenchman came seventh last year and put in a strong performance on the bike this year, saying: “I felt exceptionally comfortable on the bike today and the lead gave me the necessary confidence on the final running section. Second-placed Dane Silas Engel Plambaek was delighted at the finish. The 21-year-old himself did not expect to climb straight onto the podium in his first long-distance race: “I felt in shape for this tough race in Zofingen, but you could say it was a surprise.”
Blondel-Hermant out early
For the big favorite to win, Émile Blondel-Hermant, the race was over after just over half an hour. Last year’s winner suffered a flat tire shortly after changing onto his bike and abandoned the race. Matthieu Bourgeois from France, the 2022 Powerman winner, also dropped out early. However, another Frenchman was in impressive form. The 34-year-old Baptiste Domanico, who finished seventh last year, took the lead from Fabian Holbach on the bike course. The German stayed close on the Frenchman’s heels for a long time and only dropped back towards the end of the 150-kilometer bike course. In the end, Baptiste Domanico went into the final run course with a lead of over two minutes on the Swiss Jens-Michael Gossauer. The Frenchman maintained his lead, while Gossauer had to concede second place to the surprisingly strong Dane Silas Engel Lambaek and later dropped back to an ungrateful fourth place. The German Fabian Holbach overtook the Swiss and secured the bronze medal at the Powerman Zofingen, just like two years ago.
Brunnée with fourth victory in Zofingen
The German Merle Brunnée lived up to the high expectations again this year and celebrated her fourth world championship long-distance title in Thutstadt. At her first start at the Powerman Zofingen, Great Britain’s Rachel Brown set a fast pace. This year’s runner-up in the middle distance world championships was the first to change onto her bike. But then Brunnée quickly caught up and overtook Brown. After 22 kilometers on the Wiliberg, the German had already built up a lead of 40 seconds on the bike. With a cushion of several minutes, Brunnée then tackled the final running section and brought her fourth victory in the last five years in Zofingen safely to the finish. Although she had been on the road for 6 hours and 48 minutes, the beaming winner responded in a relaxed manner: “Zofingen is always something special and has become like coming home for me. I know the course and the challenges. It’s simply beautiful here.” For her part, Brit Rachel Brown defended her second place to the finish and took silver at her first Powerman participation in Zofingen. Brown was correspondingly happy in the finish area: “I’m very happy with second place. In view of Merle Brunnée’s strong performance, I had no chance of catching up with her.” The German Madlen Kappeler crossed the finish line in third place, heavily exhausted but all the happier for it.
Swiss victories over the short distance
In the short-distance race (10 km running / 50 km cycling / 5 km running), Sven Altermatt from Basel also took victory in his debut in Zofingen. Mathieu Iselin (Thalwil) came in second, less than a minute behind. Richard Lustenberger (Frauenfeld) came in third. Anna Zehnder triumphed again in the women’s short distance. She had no trouble defending her title and crossed the finish line over two minutes ahead of second-placed Sarah Etter (Richterswil). France’s Marine Claudel finished third on the podium.
Successful premiere of the Zofingen5000 run
Over 80 runners took part in the newly added 5000-metre “Zofingen5000” race on Saturday in bright sunshine and ideal temperatures. The five laps of 1000 meters each were completed along General-Guisan-Strasse. Numerous spectators lined the avenue on both sides and cheered on the athletes with loud shouts. There was also a great atmosphere at the children’s and youth races beforehand.
Text: Christof Gerber
Photos: Manuel Geisser