France's Arthur Forissier beat defending champion Ruben Ruzafa of Spain to win the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship ©ITU

France's Arthur Forissier beat defending champion Ruben Ruzafa of Spain to win the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Cross Triathlon World Championship in Pontevedra. 

Forissier triumphed in 1hr 48:21mins to take the world title off Ruzafa, who finished in 1:48:54.

Lukas Kocar took third place in 1:49:05.

In the women's competition, Italy's Eleonara Peroncini was victorious in 2:10:17.

The British duo of Jacqueline Slack and Nicole Walters were second and third in 2:11:20 and 2:12:14, respectively. 

Defending champion and fellow Briton, Lesley Paterson, could only finish fifth place in 2:13:38.

A cross triathlon is considered more gruelling than a usual triathlon, featuring mountain biking and an off-road run.

The next event to take place at the ITU World Championships will be the aquathlon.