Alexandre Paviza won the men’s PTWC at the Paratriathlon World Cup in Besançon ©IPC

Nine French Para triathletes earned medals at their home Paratriathlon World Cup in Besançon, the second International Triathlon Union World Cup event of 2019.

Alexandre Paviza won the men’s PTWC, finishing 32 seconds ahead of Ahmed Andaloussi in a French one-two, while Germany’s Benjamin Lenatz completed the podium.

Antoine Perel ensured double golden delight for the host country, crossing the line a minute ahead of Italy’s Federico Sicura in the men’s PTVI, with Oren Blitzblau of Israel third.

France’s Jules Ribstein enjoyed a close battle with Britain’s Andy Lewis in the men’s PTS2, Lewis coming out on top by six seconds.

Bronze went to Russia’s Vasilii Egorov.

France’s Annouck Curzillat claimed bronze in the women's PTVI as just seven seconds separated British winner Melissa Reid and Italy’s Anna Barbaro in the top two places at the finish line.

With qualification beginning for Tokyo 2020 at the end of June, the United States' three-times world champion Kendall Gretsch showed good form by winning the women's PTWC by six minutes ahead of the Netherlands’ Margret Ijdema, with France’s Mona Francis third.

Yannick Bourseaux secured another French medal with bronze in the men’s PTS5, despite racing with an Achilles injury.

France’s Jules Ribstein enjoyed a close battle with Andy Lewis, pictured, in the men’s PTS2, with the British Para athlete triumphant ©Getty Images
France’s Jules Ribstein enjoyed a close battle with Andy Lewis, pictured, in the men’s PTS2, with the British Para athlete triumphant ©Getty Images

Germany’s Paralympic and three-times world champion Martin Schulz won gold in the PTS5 as he finished nearly a minute and a half ahead of David Bryant of Australia.

The women’s PTS5 was won by Ukraine's Alisa Kolpakchy, ahead of Australian teenager Molly Wallace and France’s Sandra Chaleteix.

The ninth French medallist was Michael Herter in the men’s PTS3.

Nico van der Burgt of the Netherlands continued his rookie season with another win in that event, crossing the line more than six minutes ahead of Germany’s Max Gelhaar and Herter.

The men’s PTS4 was one of the most competitive events.

There were 38 seconds between gold medallist Mikhail Kolmakov of Russia and runner-up Joe Kurt of Luxembourg, while Austria’s Oliver Dreier was 22 seconds behind Kurt.

Victory in the women’s PTS2 went to 2017 world champion Liisa Lilja, more than six minutes ahead of Italy’s Veronica Yoko Plebani and Russia’s Veronika Gabitova.

In the women’s PTS4, Germany’s Elke Van Engelen beat Russia’s Evgeniya Koroleva in a head-to-head battle.