Para-Triathlon at the world level returns for 2023 with the first World Cup of the year. The athletes will be racing in Abu Dhabi alongside those taking on the opening WTCS race of the season. Abu Dhabi will also represent a valuable opportunity for athletes to score points towards qualifying for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
PTWC and PVTI
In the wheelchair racing category, a big name will be absent in the form of Jetze Plat. Plat was dominant in 2022 (as he has been for years) and we suggested him as an Alternative Male Athlete of the Year.
In his place, Florian Brungraber will likely be the favourite after his silver medal at last year’s World Championships.
Eva Maria Moral Pedrero of Spain is the only woman slated to race in the PTWC category. She was the European champion in 2021 and finished 6th at the World Championships last November.
In the virtually impaired class, none of the men’s World Championships podium from last year will be racing. The racing could therefore come down to a battle between Donnacha McCarthy of Ireland and Rafael Cabello Sanchez of Spain. As the younger athlete, Cabello arguably has the greatest scope to improve.
McCarthy, though, cannot be discounted. He won the 2021 World Cup race in Alanya and last year took a bronze at the Alhandra World Cup.
On the women’s side, Kyrgyzstan duo Aitunuk Zhoomart Kyzy and Gulnaz Zhuzbaeva will be the only athletes racing in the PTVI class.
PTS
With racing taking place over the PTS2, PTS3, PTS4 and PTS5 categories, there will be a number of stories to watch.
As a reminder, PTS2 describes the athletes with the most severe physical impairment while PTS5 contains athletes with milder impairments. All athletes in the PTS groups may race using prosthetics or other supportive devices, subject to World Triathlon approval. You can view the various Para-Triathlon categories here.
Antoine Besse (PTS5) stands out among the field. He was the French Para-Triathlon champion in 2022. In addition, across 2021 and 2022, he won two bronze medals at World Cups. With Martin Schulz and defending world champion Stefan Daniel not racing, Besse will have a good shot at improving on his bronzes.
Nil Riudavets Victory (PTS4) also had a strong 2022 at the World Cup level. The Spaniard won two bronzes medals and finished 4th at the Alanya World Cup.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Carmen Gonzalez Sanchez (PTS4) will be one to watch. Already in her career she has four medals from four World Cup starts. She also won a medal at the World Para Series event in Yokohama last year.
Of all the women racing in Abu Dhabi, she one of the few that are close to being a sure bet for a medal.
