Category: Races

Mexico have a fabulous squad of athletes slated to race at the Huatulco World Cup. On the women’s side, they have several that can fight for the win. The obvious place to start is with Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal after her outstanding silver medal at WTCS Yokohama. Her run in Japan was so good that it is hard to see anyone being able to overpower her on the final discipline this weekend. Moreover, given that she made the breakaway in Yokohama, she should be untroubled on the swim and bike.…

After a Saturday of Olympic distance racing in Europe and Asia, Sunday’s Americas Cup saw a shift to Sprint racing. With lush jungle surrounding the course, Chinchiná made for a beautiful event location. The morning start saw the temperature stay low and tolerable, although the warm water ensured a non-wetsuit swim was on the cards. As hosts Colombia had several hopes for medals, with one athlete in particular standing out. Women’s race Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto arrived in Chinchiná having gone unbeaten so far in 2023. As she lined up…

When it comes to the men’s race at the Huatulco World Cup, it seems that wherever one turns a young prodigy waits in the wings ready to strike ahead of an established contender for the win. The obvious point to start is with the Spanish double threat of Genis Grau and David Castro Fajardo. Castro comes into Huatulco having just won the European Championships in Madrid. He produced an awesome run to seal the win (albeit in a duathlon) and will likely be a factor throughout the race. Castro also…

The Olympic distance action did not stop today. In addition to the races in Samarkand and Lianyungang, there was a European Cup in Rzeszów, Poland. In Poland, though, two very different races were on display. Whereas the women’s race had a kind of structure to it, the men’s was all over the show. For those that have ever tried herding cats (or children, for the parents out there), the array of different things happening at once in the men’s event would have felt reassuringly familiar. In both cases, though, the…

Doubling as an Asia Cup race, the Central Asian Championships took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. One of the most notable aspects of the race preview was that two athletes that are currently in line to seal New Flag slots for the Paris Olympics, Ivana Kuriackova and Ayan Beisenbayev, were due to start. Samarkand therefore presented a perfect opportunity for them to reinforce their position. Both already had international wins to their name this season and so could be confident heading into the Olympic distance challenge. However, several athletes awaited on…

A third Asia Cup in China in the space of two months took place today. In Lianyungang, as had been the case with the races in Dexing and Taizhou earlier in the year, the athletes took on the Olympic distance. The men’s winner from Taizhou, Jumpei Furuya, started however none of the women’s medallists appeared this time round. As a result, whereas the men’s race had an obvious pre-race favourite, the women’s event was a little more open. Men’s race Qili Bai of China led the way in the water…

At the last minute, the European Championships in Madrid were switched to a duathlon and a 5km run replaced the standard 1500m swim. However the change did little to dampen the performances of the athletes. With the European title on the line, the field put their best feet forwards and the racing saw the coronation of two first-time continental champions. Women’s race Lisa Tertsch made the most of the first 5km run and set the pace in the early stages. Also with her were Jeanne Lehair and Miriam Casillas Garcia…

In tandem with the European Cup in Olsztyn, two elite Junior fields took to the start line to contest the European Junior Cup at the venue. After the recent dabble with the Super Sprint distance at the European Junior Cup in Caorle, this time it was back to the Sprint distance for the field. Although slightly chilly weather awaited the athletes, they managed to heat up the day with their racing. Men’s race Márton Kropkó, the recently-crowned World Junior Aquathlon champion, made the most of his speed in the water…

With a home race in Osaka, an array of Japan’s best triathletes were determined to put on a show. With the Sprint distance on the agenda, the racing was as fast as promised by the organisers to the onlooking spectators. Men’s race Jumpei Furuya arrived in the city on the back of a win at the Asia Cup in Taizhou and it seemed that some parts of the field were determined to shake him off as quickly as possible. Mitsuho Mochizuki led the way in the water, clocking 9:00 for…

After his win at the African Cup in M’Diq two weeks ago, Tim Hellwig was the prohibitive favourite in the men’s race in Yasmine Hammamet. Similarly, Tanja Neubert was the one to watch in the women’s race after impressing at Bundesliga Kraichgau last weekend. Although they faced fairly small fields, they nonetheless had to prove their mettle under the Tunisian sun. Men’s race Chris Ziehmer led the way in the swim although with most of the field bunching together the identity of the leader changed several times. Hellwig cruised 6…

The latest European Cup of the season took place in Olsztyn, Poland, the home of last year’s European Championships over the Super Sprint distance. This time round the athletes took on the Sprint distance. Women’s race It was the conviction with which Selina Klamt raced that impressed the most. From the starter’s signal in Olsztyn she was at the front of the field. Nor did she simply lead. Klamt made sure to push the pace and dared the field to keep up. Appoline Foltz of France ultimately led the way…