Category: Races

Fresh off the Americas Championships over the Olympic distance, the Sprint equivalent took place in Santa Marta, Colombia. Both the men’s and women’s winners from Veracruz, John Reed and Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal, were absent, leaving the second Americas title of the month up for grabs. Over a fast course, there was barely a moment for the athletes to catch their breath. Women’s race Diana Castillo initially raised the home hopes as she led the way in the water. The Colombian athlete clocked 10:38 for the 750m swim. Within striking…

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It’s hard to say for sure who the happiest man was atop the podium at the Karlovy Vary World Cup. Jonas Schomburg, the bronze medallist, won his first World Cup medal. Márk Dévay likewise claimed his first medal in taking silver. In doing so, he satisfied a particular ambition that has burned within him for a while. And then there was Pearson. When the start lists were revealed for Karlovy Vary, Morgan Pearson was in a very different place to that which he now inhabits. An indifferent start to the…

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At every turn, the women’s race at the Karlovy Vary World Cup seemed to hold an unexpected twist. Famed for the leg-sapping climbs on the course, it was expected to be a playground for the cyclists. Yet the swimmers were the ones to make hay early on. Therese Feuersinger led the early exchanges. With a long, elegant stroke, she glided through the water at half the effort and twice the speed of some others in the field. Bianca Seregni sat on Feuersinger’s feet with Sophie Alden in tow. During the…

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The Asia Cup in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, doubled as the Central Asian Championships. With world ranking points and a chance to race internationally on offer, the Sprint distance event attracted plenty of athletes from further abroad. Men’s race Chris Ziehmer of Germany was one such man to take advantage of the racing opportunity. Across the Bundesliga season, Ziehmer proved to be the second most valuable man by points earned and his regular racing was pivotal for his team. In Cholpon-Ata, there was a degree to which his team-oriented efforts were rewarded…

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Zagreb, Croatia, played host to one of the final international racing opportunities for Junior athletes of 2023. In perfect conditions, the athletes borrowed the lake from their rowing counterparts to take on a Sprint distance event. Women’s race The Italian team took charge of the non-wetsuit 750m swim. Mathilde Vacchini led the way in 10:10 while her teammates Sara Crociani and Adelaide Anna Badini Confalonieri followed within 5 seconds. After dominating the European Junior Cup in Dublin, Nora Romina Nádas was racing once again and emerged next behind Vacchini. Ana…

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On a course as tough as Karlovy Vary, it should come as no surprise that the World Cup has attracted a field containing most of the best female cyclists in the sport. Notwithstanding a few notable absences, such as Taylor Knibb, there are plenty of women starting that can summon serious power on two wheels. Among the leading contenders for the win will be Julie Derron. The Swiss athlete is in top form having recorded a personal best WTCS finish in Sunderland and then claimed 8th place at the Paris…

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At the third Olympic distance World Cup in three weekends, there may be some tired bodies that toe the start line in Karlovy Vary. A leading candidate for the win in the Czech Republic among the near-exhausted will be Lasse Nygaard Priester. The German athlete finished 3rd at the World Cup in Weihai and then improved that to 2nd at the World Cup in Valencia. A former winner in Karlovy Vary, Priester knows the course and has shown he can succeed at it. He is clearly in form and could…

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At the first African Cup in almost two months, a global field took to the start line to compete over the Sprint distance in Monastir, Tunisia. For several of the home athletes, it provided a valuable racing opportunity ahead of the looming African Championships. For those from further afield, Monastir offered invaluable points towards the world rankings. In both the men’s and women’s races, the winner came away with their first gold medal of the season. Men’s race Julian Piller got the race off to a brisk start as he…

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In both races at the European Junior Cup in Bled, a bold breakaway would be cruelly denied. Over the Super Sprint format, with distances of a 400m swim, 13.4km bike and 3.3km run, the races unfolded in similar manners. It was only at the finish that the changes came. In the men’s race, a nail-biting sprint finish separated the leading athletes while in the women’s event, a late come-from-behind victory snatched victory from a bold solo attack. Men’s race As has become his calling card, Zalán Hóbor attacked the swim…

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The Americas Championships over the Olympic distance were decided at the weekend. Although a fast, flat course was on offer, the heat made for challenging conditions. Most notably, the athletes took on the 1500m swim with water temperatures hitting 30°C. Despite the heat, the athletes produced some outstanding racing in Mexico. Women’s race After winning a maiden WTCS medal in Yokohama, Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal arrived in Veracruz as the favourite to claim the Americas title. However, a start list containing plenty of threats awaited her. It was clear from…

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When David Cantero del Cantero spun to spur the crowd, flapping his arms to ask more from them, he still had 5km to run. The lead group had been whittled down to seven men and included Antonio Serrat Seoane, a WTCS medallist, and Lasse Nygaard Priester, who was fresh off a World Cup medal in Weihai. As one of the youngest men in the field, Cantero could have settled onto the feet of those ahead waited for the attacks to come. In a sign of his confidence, he whipped up…

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Like a wine of a certain vintage, you knew exactly what you were going to get when the Valencia World Cup was uncorked. At almost every stage of the race, it became increasingly apparent that a Jorgensen, 2016 vintage was on offer. As Jolien Vermeylen led the 1500m swim with Anja Weber and Yuko Takahashi for company, Jorgensen emerged perfectly placed. Twenty-three of the thirty-six starters exited the water within 15 seconds of Vermeylen’s 22:13 split. Jorgensen was a mere 7 seconds back and rubbing shoulders with the leaders in…

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