Italy's Sandra Mairhofer overcame a poor swim to win the women's cross triathlon title ©World Triathlon

France's Felix Forissier and Sandra Mairhofer of Italy have clinched the cross triathlon titles at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Ibiza.

The men's event on the Spanish island began with an incident-filled 20-kilometres bike ride as Forissier's compatriot and defending champion Arthur Serrieres suffered a fall and had to retire, before his brother, former world champion Arthur Forissier, became unseated.

The eventual winner managed to hold on and cross the line first with a time of 1 hour 33min 19sec after a leading run time which propelled him to the front.

He was followed across the line by the Czech Republic's Lukas Kocar in 1:33:43 and then brother Arthur a further 20 seconds later.

Felix, the younger of the two brothers, was 30 seconds off the pace after the swim but 22 minutes for the run, 25 seconds better than the rest of the field pushed him into a lead.

France's Felix Forissier won his first cross triathlon, two years after brother Arthur lifted the title, with a powerful performance on land in Ibiza ©World Triathlon
France's Felix Forissier won his first cross triathlon, two years after brother Arthur lifted the title, with a powerful performance on land in Ibiza ©World Triathlon

"I am so happy," said Felix Forissier.

"It is such a great feeling to be able to compete with my brother.

"Two years ago, he was world champion and I thought then that maybe one day that could be me.

"He was pushing the pace and I just wanted to not lose sight, but when he came off, Kocar was pushing it hard too.

"I knew I had the legs to catch him and then it was my time to push!"

In the women's race, Mairhofer performed similarly to Forissier. 

The Italian was 20 seconds away from the leader after the 1k  swim but was blistering when on the bike and then carried her pace over to the run to finish in 1:48:59.

She was joined on the podium by Switzerland's Loanne Duvoisin and France's Alizee Paties, who clocked in after 1:49:41 and 1:50:30, respectively.

"That was a great course and this feels like my favourite title of them all so far!" said Mairhofer.

"When you are up against girls of this talent, you don't feel any pressure because you know how good they are.

"But I was really happy with my swim and just felt really good on the bike.

"My preparations weren't ideal, I've been ill and had a lot of travel, so to pull it together today feels amazing."

Competition at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships is set to continue tomorrow with the elite long-distance triathlon events.