UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Pazardzhik: Belaud (FRA) bosses Men’s Qualification
Two-time world champion Valentin Belaud of France handed out a lesson to the next generation on the second day of UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Pazardzhik in Bulgaria.
Belaud (FRA), 32, scored highest in Men’s Qualification with an impressive 1,583 points, finishing 4sec ahead of team-mate Ugo Fleurot (FRA) with Individual Neutral Athletes Akim Gnedtchik and Uladzislau Melkaziorau finishing together in 3rd. Matteo Cicinelli of Italy was among the others who qualified safely for the Semi-finals.
Group A was also dominated by a French duo, with Mathis Rochat (FRA) leading Brice Loubet (FRA) home ahead of Mohamed El Ashqar of Egypt, whose team-mate Mohanad Shaban (EGY) was dramatically eliminated in Obstacle, and home favourite Todor Mihalev of Bulgaria.
Group C was where the Asian challenge surfaced, as Bailiang Chen of China and Changwan Seo of Korea topped the standings and Giorgio Malan (ITA) finished in a comfortable 3rd. The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist will now hope to go one better than in Pentathlon World Cup Budapest two weeks ago where he missed out on the Final in a sprint finish.
Pentathlon World Cup Pazardzhik continues tomorrow (May 9) with the Women’s Semi-finals and Men's Fencing Seeding Round, followed by the Men’s Semi-finals on May 10 and the Finals on May 11.
Live stream of the Semi-finals and Finals is available free on UIPM TV and all competition results are available at the UIPM website.
Click here to get the full list of the athletes who qualified for the Men's Semi-finals.
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