Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The men's 10km race in Golfo Aranci concluded with Sacha Velly capturing his first 10km World Cup title. Velly stayed within the top ten throughout the race, making a decisive move in the final kilometer to finish narrowly ahead.
Velly described his strategy as starting calmly and finishing strongly, highlighting the mental aspect as crucial. He expressed satisfaction at achieving this milestone after previously reaching the podium three times. Olympic Champion Kristof Rasovszky led much of the race, with lead changes that included Germany’s Oliver Klemet and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri.
Marc-Antoine Olivier claimed the silver medal, just 0.2 seconds behind Velly. Known as the 'King of Consistency,' Olivier has won 23 World Cup medals and has remained a leader in open water swimming for over a decade, attributing his success to experience and strategy since 2012.
Velly expressed confidence ahead of the final event of the 2026 World Cup circuit, stressing the importance of preparation against strong competition. He credited his coach and the French Federation for their support and training. The close finish among the top three highlighted the highly competitive nature of the race.