Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
David Betlehem secured the 10km race victory and clinched his first Overall World Cup Leader trophy in the final event held in Setúbal, Portugal. Before the race, the top male athletes were closely ranked within a few hundred points, setting the stage for intense competition. The race was fast-paced, influenced by a change in afternoon currents, with reigning World Champion Florian Wellbrock taking an early lead and winning the sprint lap. Olympic Champion Kristof Rasovszky kept a firm lead during the middle laps by working with Betlehem to stay at the front. On the last lap, the group’s formation shifted as racers took separate lines to the finish, with medalists Sacha Velly and Marc-Antoine Olivier moving through the pack and Velly distinctly choosing a clear water path. A final 600-meter sprint unfolded mainly between Betlehem and Velly, with Betlehem ultimately touching the pad first to win the race and overall title.
Betlehem expressed pride and emotion following his victory, noting that the mental challenge was significant due to strong competition from the French swimmers. He recalled seeing Velly, Olivier, and Italian swimmer Filadelli close by on the last lap, which motivated him to push harder to secure the win. Betlehem was also inspired by his teammate Bettina Fabian winning a silver medal earlier in the day, reinforcing his confidence in his preparation and training.
Team France saw further success as Sacha Velly earned his tenth World Cup medal and secured second place overall for the season. Velly reflected positively on his consistent performances across the season, including podium finishes in Ibiza and Golfo Aranci. He plans to continue improving at the European Championships and noted the challenging Setúbal conditions, which influenced his strategy to swim independently near the finish to maintain a strong position.