UIPM 2017 World Cup II: Tymoshchenko (UKR) reigns supreme

Pavlo Tymoshchenko of Ukraine won Men's Individual gold at 2017 UIPM World Cup II after a dominant performance in the Egyptian capital.

The 2015 world champion, who claimed an Olympic silver medal at Rio 2016, moved out in front during the Fencing discipline and took a 22-second lead into the Laser-Run which he defended with ease.

Behind him, world No.2 Valentin Prades (FRA) moved with great stealth through the field having started the Laser-Run in 11th place, and cruised home in second place 12 seconds behind the champion. 

The real battle was for bronze, and it was won by Fabian Liebig (GER) after he used his strong running prowess to pass Matteo Cicinelli (ITA) at the beginning of the final lap.

The experienced Tymoshchenko, 30, has now won four individual World Cup gold medals after previous successes in Rome (2015), Chengdu (2013) and Palm Springs (2011).

Cicinelli (ITA) set the standard in Swimming in the morning with the fastest time of 2:01.36, narrowly quicker than Hikaru Shimano (JAP, 2:01.83).

It was in Fencing, however, that the eventual champion stood up to be counted and Tymoshchenko (UKR) was way ahead of his rivals with a Ranking Round score of 26V/8D and a points differential of 24 over second-best Alexander Lifanov (RUS).

After two events there was strong Egyptian representation on the leaderboard with Sherif Rashad and Eslam Hamad flying the flag in the absence of the Olympian siblings Omar and Amro Elgeziry. They both stayed in contention during the Riding. Liebig (GER) moved into the mix with a clean round, while Tymoshchenko (UKR) and Prades (FRA) incurred only 7 penalty points each.

Prades (FRA) was the star performer in Laser-Run as he moved serenely up to 2nd place, while Alexander Savkin (RUS) finished strongly in 4th.

The other top-six places went to Cicinelli (ITA) and Hamad (EGY), who was greeted with huge cheers from the home crowd during the prize giving. His fellow Egyptian athlete, Rashad, finished 10th.

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: "We are at the beginning of the season and we could see great performances and new faces of our sport here at the World Cup II, in Cairo. It also gives us a great view of the future.

"Tomorrow we will see a great competition for the medals on the women's side."

The Women's Individual Final follows tomorrow (March 25) before World Cup II closes with the Mixed Relay (March 26).

Live stream of the finals is available on UIPM TV from 6.30pm local time (4.30pm GMT). Up-to-date results of all competitions are available at the UIPM website.