Category: Races

Zaferes Continues Comeback With Sarasota Silver

Benjamin Eastman

Katie Zaferes continued her return to the world of elite triathlon at the Americas Cup race in Sarasota. Coming only one week after her return at WTCS Abu Dhabi, she would be taking on the Sprint distance once more. In addition to Zaferes, a number of talented youngsters in both the men’s and women’s races toed the start line in Sarasota. For many athletes, it represented the first race of their seasons. Women’s Race A double punch of Sarah-Lee Hevey and Diana Castillo put the field under immense pressure in…

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Biagioli and Willy Prevail in Tense Races in Villarrica

Benjamin Eastman

The Americas Cup in Villarrica, Chile, doubled as the South American Championships. With world rankings points on the line, though, Villarrica saw a number of athletes from around the world take on the Olympic distance race. Men’s race Long term fans will not be surprised to hear that Richard Varga led the men into T1. The Slovakian put together a masterful swim, logging a time of 16:52. Only four men were able to get within 30 seconds of him. Among that group were Kauê Willy of Brazil and Ramon Armando…

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Double Canadian Win at the La Paz Americas Cup

Benjamin Eastman

Last weekend saw plenty of action in Cuba at the Americas Cup races and several of the athletes were back racing in Americas Cup events. One such event took place in La Paz, Mexico. The athletes took on a challenging Olympic distance course, with a particularly unforgiving sea swim. Women’s race The non-wetsuit swim proved an arduous task for the field as the ocean currents were not favourable. Sarah-Lee Hevey of Canada led the women out of the water in 24:21. At her feet was a line of seven women.…

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Alex Yee Storms to the Win at WTCS Abu Dhabi

Benjamin Eastman

Bad memories can quickly become demons if not expunged in time. For two of the favourites for this year’s world title, Abu Dhabi held harsh memories from a mere three months ago. Both Alex Yee and Hayden Wilde had astonishing seasons last year but tripped at the last and saw Leo Bergere win the world title. Back at the same venue, they had a chance to put that right. Morgan Pearson was a pre-race hopeful that did not start but otherwise the men dove into the pristine waters of Yas…

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Potter Holds Off Coldwell for First WTCS Win

Benjamin Eastman

Sometimes, it takes one athlete to light up a race. At the opening race of the WTCS season, Sophie Coldwell took it upon herself to be that one athlete. From the start, it was like someone had set off a firework. She was lightning quick off the pontoon and emerged noticeably ahead in the water. If something looks too good to be true, though, it often is. Such was the case with Coldwell. As she dominated the early portion of the swim, it was confirmed that she had indeed started…

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A First Win in Abu Dhabi on the Cards for Beaugrand

Benjamin Eastman

On paper, Georgia Taylor-Brown is the favourite going into the first race of the new WTCS season in Abu Dhabi. It is hard to make the case against her. The only woman that has beaten her more than once over the past 18 months will not be on the start line, clearing the path for what should be a fairly comfortable victory. Whether the race evolves into a breakaway or comes down to a foot race out of T2, Taylor-Brown has the versatility to compete in any situation. After two…

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First Blood of 2023 To Go to Wilde in Abu Dhabi

Benjamin Eastman

The men’s race at WTCS Abu Dhabi essentially boils down to one question. Will the French make their strategy stick? We noted that several of the French men have highlighted their swimming on social media in the run up to the first race of the season. This came after swim-driven breakaways saw French athletes win the last two WTCS races of 2022. If the French are able to pull the same trick again, that will set the table for how the race can pan out. The obvious beneficiary of the…

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Another Win For Velasquez as Sobey Also Wins in La Habana

Benjamin Eastman

The racing in South America continued with an Olympic distance Americas Cup in La Habana, Cuba. The main story line heading into the race was whether Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto would win a third race in row. She won last week in Venezuela and at her last race of 2022. Men’s race Darr Smith wore number 1 while last week’s silver medallist in La Guiara, Venezuela, Irving Perez, wore number 2. All eyes at the start, though, were on Slovakian athlete Richard Varga. As one of the best swimmers in…

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Maselspoort Wins Earned by Beisenbayev and De Koning

Benjamin Eastman

A busy weekend of racing continued in Maselspoort, South Africa. In the first African Cup race of 2023, the athletes took on the Sprint distance although neither the men’s nor the women’s race had over twenty-five starters. Both fields were therefore marked by small groups on the bike. Men’s race Despite the warm water (with temperatures recorded at 23.8ºC), the men swam in wetsuits. That resulted in some solid times being recorded. Ayan Beisenbayev of Kazhakstan led the men as he produced a 9:14 split. Beisenbayev had previously won four…

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Lukas Pertl and Xinyu Lin Earn Gold at Hong Kong Asia Cup

Benjamin Eastman

Hong Kong played host to the first Asia Cup race of 2023. It has been a long-awaited return to the city. The last Asia Cup to be held on the island was in October 2018 after travel restrictions made it virtually impossible during the pandemic. Hong Kong also saw a sizeable contingent of local and Chinese athletes take the start line. China in particular has been absent for much of the past few years, with few of its athletes making international appearances in triathlon. Men’s race The Pertl brothers, Lukas…

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Prosser and Course Crowned as Oceania Junior Champs

Benjamin Eastman

Alongside the Oceania Cup, the Oceania Junior Championships took place in Taupo, New Zealand. In the women’s race, Hannah Prosser put together a consummate performance to take the win. She recorded a solid 10:02 in the swim to remain within range of the leaders and then added a strong showing on the bike to assert herself towards the front into T2. It was her run, though, that truly separated her. Prosser produced a time of 18:52 to take the win. For context, Gwen Jorgensen ran 18:31 and Nicole Van Der…

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Van Der Kaay and Castro Fajardo Take the Wins in Taupo

Benjamin Eastman

The second Oceania Cup of the season kicked off in Taupo with several athletes staying in New Zealand having already raced in Wanaka last week. There was, however, one major addition to the start list. Gwen Jorgensen, the former Olympic champion, would be racing for the first time since announcing her comeback to the sport. With both race winners from Wanaka, Nicole Van Der Kaay and Callum Mcclusky, in the mix, Taupo promised to be a fast race. Women’s race Under slightly overcast conditions, the athletes charged into Lake Taupo.…

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Van Der Kaay and Mcclusky Kick Off Oceania Races With Wins

Benjamin Eastman

The first Oceania Cup of the year took place today in Wanaka, New Zealand. Taking on the Sprint distance, the athletes raced on a Friday evening in balmy conditions. Women’s race Ainsley Thorpe was the highest ranked woman starting while WTCS silver medallist Nicole Van Der Kaay was also on the start line. Both women are in contention for the New Zealand Olympic team and were looking to make a strong start to their seasons. Unsurprisingly, Emma Jeffcoat of Australia seized the initiative on the swim and immediately put Thorpe…

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