Category: Comment

The Poisoned Chalice of the Olympic Triathlon Dream

Benjamin Eastman

I suppose the only way to start is to say we all saw it coming. Or at least, those that have followed the sport of triathlon for long enough knew what was about to happen. There has yet to be an Olympic Games untouched by selection scandals. Dating all the way back to Sydney in 2000 where the home Australian team turned itself inside out with its selection drama, the glittering face of the Games has been pockmarked by scars and warts. It is refreshing to see that, for once,…

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WTCS Cagliari and the Significance of One Second

Benjamin Eastman

Among the many storylines to track at WTCS Cagliari, there was one detail in particular that stood out. Alex Yee and Hayden Wilde treated us to yet another showdown, one that resulted in their closest finish yet over the Olympic distance as Yee won by 2 seconds. In a call back to last season, the same 2 seconds were all that separated Wilde from Yee (and Vasco Vilaca) in his victory at WTCS Hamburg. Over the Super Sprint distances, such small margins are to be expected though. The picture is…

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What are the stories to watch at WTCS Cagliari 2024?

Benjamin Eastman

The final event of the Paris Olympic qualification window is upon us. WTCS Cagliari marks the second stop of this year’s Series and will in all likelihood confirm the Olympic fates of the half the athletes starting. While some athletes will simply put the finishing touches on places earned via the Olympic rankings, others are in live contests that could go down to the wire. In the wider season narrative, the field will also have to strike back at Morgan Pearson and Leonie Periault after they took an early lead…

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What Are British Triathlon Cooking In Kitzbühel?

Benjamin Eastman

Next month, across 14th and 15th June, the European Cup in Kitzbühel will take place. On the surface, that is not the most groundbreaking news. While Kitzbühel is a former WTCS stop and has hosted the European Championships in times gone by, it is currently one of many events on the European Cup circuit. However, this iteration of the race could prove to be very interesting. Britain will be sending a full strength team to Kitzbühel. Indeed, it will be a stronger line-up than they recently fielded at WTCS Yokohama.…

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What are the Stories to Watch at WTCS Yokohama 2024

Benjamin Eastman

Excitement is rising as the belated WTCS season opener will get underway in Yokohama tomorrow. Over seven months have passed since the last race in the Series while the shortened 2024 season means that every race has acquired a new edge. Throw in the Olympic battles throughout the field and a pair of instant classics could be in store. Before the racing gets underway, take a look below at some of the main topics to track this weekend. Who is in shape? The most basic point with which to start…

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Takeaways From Round 1 of the 2024 French Grand Prix

Benjamin Eastman

The 2024 French Grand Prix got off to a flying start with two dramatic races in Fréjus. Jessica Fullagar capitalised on a breakaway in the women’s event while Alex Yee was too swift for his rivals in the men’s race. Read on to find out out someone of the main takeaways from the event and the latest standings in the two competitions.   Poissy do Poissy things The defending women’s champions won the round in fairly comprehensive style. Candice Denizot was the top performer as she was pipped to the…

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Paris 2024 President Admits Olympic Swim Could Be Cancelled

Benjamin Eastman

Over the past twelve months, water quality has been a central talking point in the triathlon world. From the European Championships in Madrid to WTCS Sunderland to the Hong Kong World Cup, stories of swim cancellations and athlete sickness have become significant issues. One event, however, stands out above the rest. At last year’s Paris Olympic Test Event, doubts were raised over the safety of the water after the open water swimming test in the Seine was postponed due to safety concerns. The individual triathlon races took place as planned…

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The Takeaways From The Inaugural Lievin World Cup

Benjamin Eastman

In addition to the stirring wins by Laura Lindemann and Vetle Bergsvik Thorn, there was plenty to unpack at the first ever indoor World Cup. Read on to find some of the main takeaways from Lievin. The format The obvious point to start is with the format itself. The racing at Lievin presented a novel challenge to the athletes (notwithstanding those that had tackled the same event at the European Cup level) but one clear positive could be found in the venue. The stadium setting provided the perfect raucous atmosphere,…

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The Geopolitical Backdrop To The World Triathlon Series

Benjamin Eastman

In less than a week’s time, the opening race of the WTCS season will take place in Abu Dhabi. Both the men’s and women’s fields have at least half a dozen legitimate world title contenders and the medals at the first round could go in any number of directions. Moreover, with the Olympics looming on the horizon there will be plenty of narratives to track throughout the triathlon season. However, as easy as it would be to take sport in isolation, there is a wider reality beyond the racing to…

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Who Are The Favourites In The Women’s 2024 WTCS?

Benjamin Eastman

In a similar fashion to the men’s field, there are plenty of contenders that could win the women’s WTCS title this year. Any of half a dozen women hold legitimate ambitions to claim the title and the margins that will ultimately separate them will likely be fine. However, one area in which the women’s field diverges from the men’s is the presence of a clear favourite. Beth Potter was not mentioned in our survey of the women’s favourites last year, which proved to be a gross oversight. On the one…

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Who Are The Favourites In The Men’s 2024 WTCS?

Benjamin Eastman

On their day, any of at least a dozen men could win a medal in this year’s WTCS. No fewer than eight men won multiple WTCS medals last season alone and, given the right conditions, any of them could challenge for a spot on this year’s overall podium. Throw in rising stars like Tim Hellwig (already a double WTCS medallist in his career), Csongor Lehmann and Miguel Hidalgo, single medal winners like Antonio Serrat Seoane, Lasse Lührs and Roberto Sanchez Mantecon, and established veterans like Vincent Luis and Jelle Geens…

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Which Women Could Win Their First WTCS Medal in 2024?

Benjamin Eastman

Yesterday we surveyed some of the men that could win their first WTCS medal this season and today we are doing the same for the women’s field. Winning a medal at a WTCS event is one of the chief ambitions of rising short course triathletes and the examples of last year offer plenty of encouragement for such athletes heading into 2024. Three women won medals for the first time last year. Among the first time winners was Kate Waugh, an individual identified as possible medallists at the start of the season. (No…

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Which Men Could Win Their First WTCS Medal In 2024?

Benjamin Eastman

It is the ultimate aspiration of every athlete coming through the ranks of short distance triathlon to step upon the podium at a WTCS race. Winning a medal in the Series is a major challenge yet in the past couple of years a handful athletes have turned their ambitions into reality. With WTCS Abu Dhabi a little over three weeks away, today we are surveying some of the candidates that could win their first WTCS medal in 2024. To go with that, we will also suggest the course that we think offers…

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The TriStats Top 30 Triathletes 2024 – Women: 6-1

Benjamin Eastman

Finally, we come to the end of the Top 30 triathletes and in this article we have the picks of the bunch. At this stage in time, the six women listed below can be called the best in the World Triathlon Championship Series. All are realistic candidates to win Olympic gold and for anyone other than them to win it would be an upset (save, perhaps, for Flora Duffy who took 7th in the ranking). Distinguishing between these athletes is no mean feat and each individual has a glittering track…

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The TriStats Top 30 Triathletes 2024 – Men: 6-1

Benjamin Eastman

This is the big one. After much anticipation, we arrive at the final step: the six best male triathletes in the world. The men listed below are at this time the likeliest candidates to make either the Olympic podium, overall WTCS podium or both this year. All won multiple WTCS medals in 2023 and all will treat Olympic gold as their objective in the coming months. To succeed in 2024, they will not have to make any great leap from their current state. Rather they will simply have to maintain…

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