Iron man: Italy's Massimo Cigana wins the Laguna Lang Co Triathlon yesterday. He took two and a half hours to complete the race, which included a 1.8km swimming stage, 62km bike ride and 12km run. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

HUE (VNS)— Massimo Cigana from Italy won the men's title at the first Laguna Lang Co Triathlon at Lang Co town yesterday.

Massimo completed the race, which included a 1.8km swim, 62km bike ride and 12km run, in two and a half hours, beating Christopher Macormack and Justin Granger from Australia.

"I'm very happy to win the race today," Massimo said at the finish line. "The race was great; however, a 62km bike ride was a challenge today. The road was good and people cheered me along the way."

The Italian, who won the legendary Laguna Phuket Triathlon in 2007, 2010 and 2011, did not finish first in the swimming stage, but managed to outperform tough rivals in the cycling stage and the 12km run around Laguna Lang Co resort.

Athletes benefited from cool weather yesterday, but large waves prevented some from swimming in the triathlon.

Radka Vodickova from the Czech Republic finished first in the women's division, while Belinda Granger from Australian came in second.

Laura Walsh from Canada won the women's duathlon, which consisted of a 6km run, a 62km bike ride and an additional 12km run, with a time of three hours and 24 minutes.

Steven Massara from the US finished first in the men's division.

The race organisers also hosted a Fun Run.

The event, organised the first time at Laguna Lang Co, Viet Nam's first and largest world-class integrated resort development, drew over 230 athletes from around the world.

The event also raised funds to help pay for water filtration systems at local primary schools. — VNS