UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo: Cicinelli (ITA) makes the grade with Men’s Final gold

Fresh from a breakthrough 5th place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Matteo Cicinelli of Italy took his confidence to a whole new level with gold in the Men’s Final at the season-opening UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo.

A consistent performer across all five disciplines and mastering the new format, Cicinelli (ITA) was runner-up in Fencing, 6th-fastest in Obstacle and 2nd-fastest in Swimming, before chewing up the 10sec lead held by Mohanad Shaban of Egypt in Laser Run.

Shaban (EGY) ended up having to hold on for bronze, as Mihaly Koleszar of Hungary joined Cicinelli (ITA) in becoming a first-time Pentathlon World Cup medallist with an impressive silver, finishing just 9sec behind the champion.

Fencing

There was a major upset early in the round as Leo Bories of France, having already accounted for Paulius Vagnorius of Lithuania, knocked out top seed Yauheni Arol (AIN).

No.2 seed Koleszar (HUN) progressed smoothly to an intriguing Semi-final with 6th seed Mohanad Shaban (EGY), while Cicinelli (ITA) and Belaud (FRA) faced off in the top half of the draw. Cicinelli (ITA) dominated Belaud (FRA) after an early concession, winning 5-1 inside 45sec, but Shaban (EGY) was even faster in despatching Koleszar (HUN) by the same margin.

Cicinelli (ITA) went low to get the first point in the Final, but Shaban (EGY) hit back with consecutive scores and then countered beautifully to claim the maximum 250 points to the delight of local supporters.

Obstacle

Vagnorius (LTU) set the tone early with a superb 26.34sec in the first heat, a time that nobody was able to emulate – at least until the Egyptians joined the fray. Mohamed Hassan (EGY) timed 26.39 to move into the overall lead, before Mazen Shaban (EGY) edged ahead thanks to a 26.85.

Koleszar (HUN) and Belaud (FRA) then had a compelling race, timing 27.53 and 30.18 respectively to stay in the top six overall. But the final duo showed excellent pressure management to maintain their positions, Mohanad Shaban (EGY) using his height and reach to also complete the course in under 27sec and stretch his lead to 11 points, while Cicinelli (ITA) kept very much in touch with a 28.44.

Swimming

With the top six fairly well established at the top of the standings, the last of three heats was always going to be key and it transpired as a duel between the two highest-ranked athletes.

Mohanad Shaban (EGY) led out strongly, reaching the 100m mark in less than 1min, but Cicinelli (ITA) fought back on the final lap to touch first in 2:05.53 to his rival’s 2:06.42. It only made a one-point difference to the overall standings, as Shaban (EGY) took a 10sec lead into Laser Run with Koleszar (HUN) 22sec off the pace in 3rd.

After a fall in Obstacle had taken him out of contention, Moutaz Mohamed (EGY) responded with the day’s fastest swim of 2:03.87.  

Laser Run

After the formation lap, Shaban (EGY) went into the range looking relaxed but a sloppy first shoot allowed Cicinelli (ITA) to reduce the lead and Koleszar (HUN) did so too. Running confidently after his Pairs 2024 heroics, Cicinelli (ITA) moved into the race lead on the second 600m, and while Shaban (EGY) did better at the second shoot, his best form was elusive and became drawn into a battle for bronze after Koleszar (HUN) moved past him at the third shoot.

With Mourcia (FRA) and Moutaz Mohamed (EGY) starting to make moves further back, Shaban (EGY) looked vulnerable and when he left the range for the final time with Mourcia (FRA) only a couple of second behind and Belaud (FRA) in 5th, local supporters must have had their hearts in their mouths. However, the tall Egyptian had kept enough in the tank to defend his position and he fought hard to earn a season-opening medal.

Up front, Cicinelli (ITA) and Koleszar (HUN) were unerring in the face of a level of success they had never enjoyed before. Their success underlined the importance of performing strongly in all five disciplines, as Laser Run specialists such as Mourcia (FRA), who timed an exceptional 9:53.30, were left with too much to do to catch the leaders.  

Behind the French 4-5 there was an Egyptian 6-7-8, with Mohamed Hassan (EGY), Mazen Shaban (EGY) and Moutaz Mohamed (EGY) all finishing strongly in front of their home supporters.

Click here to view the Men's Final results.