After spoiling the Italian party last week in Italian waters, Kristof Rasovszky of Hungary was looking for a second win in as many weeks on the World Aquatics Open Water World Cup. However, the Italians were able to exact revenge on the 2019 5km World Champion with the likes of Andrea Manzi (1:52:37.1) and Marcello Guidi (1:52:41.7) scoring a 1-2 finish.

Without the last two major champions in last year’s World Aquatics Champ Gregorio Paltrinieri and the 2020 Olympic champ Florian Wellbrock, this race was up for anyone’s taking.

With the race being later in the day than usual, the race conditions were much slower than last week. The Italians showed no signs of faltering, staying even with the lead pack early on as the Hungarian duo of Rasovszky and David Betlehem were setting the pace.

Rasovszky held the lead through the first two laps, while Betlehem took over on lap three. Guidi and Manzi stayed closed however and pressed the foot on the gas on lap four, pulling away ever so slightly from the Hungarians, who could not rebuttal.

The Italians have perhaps the most depth in open water swimming at the moment, showcasing that even without their two best swimmers, they can still go 1-2 in a World Cup race. Manzi and Guidi were hardly challenged on the final lap with Betlehem finishing third at 1:53:12.1, while Rasovszky was fourth at 1:53:18.8.

Italy’s Mario Sanzullo nearly cracked the top four by finishing fifth at 1:53:20.2 ahead of Great Britain’s Hector Thomas Pardoe (1:53:20.4) and France’s Jules Wallart (1:53:29.8), who briefly led the race after one of the early feeds.

Rasovszky is still leading the overall standings with 1900 points while Guidi is in second with 1750.

Hungary’s Hunor Kovacs-Seres was the junior winner at 1:55:34.2 for 13th overall.

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Mixed Relay Coming Up Next

The World Cup will continue with the Mixed 4x1500m Relay on Sunday beginning at 15:30 local time.