Taking the chance to mix up their standard routine, two international triathletes separately took on off-road cycling challenges. Anne Holm and Gwen Jorgensen raced in Denmark and the United States, respectively, as they took on gravel racing and cyclocross.
Holm won a silver medal at the Danish gravel nationals. Most impressively, it was her first time ever racing on gravel. The course itself covered 140km and represented a tough day out even for those well-versed in the discipline.
On the triathlon front, Holm is not scheduled to race again internationally in 2023. Although injury hit her earlier in the year, she has nonetheless had a successful season. She won a silver medal at the Danish Championships before Alberte Kjaer Pedersen. In addition, she helped Denmark to 4th place in the Mixed Team Relay at the European Championships in Balikesir.
Holm has also dabbled with cycling elsewhere. In the summer she took on the Danish Time Trial Championships, finishing 7th.
With her gravel silver medal added to her collection, she can turn her attention to the off-season and then to preparations for 2024.
Meanwhile, the former Olympic champion Jorgensen took on a cyclocross race at home back in the United States. The race had the rare distinction of being at home and enabling her friends and neighbours to see her race.
This year, Jorgensen had made her comeback to triathlon. In May, she made her first WTCS start since 2016. From there, she improved throughout the season. A silver medal at the World Cup in Huatulco followed while she made some notable contributions on the Mixed Team Relay for Team USA.
Then, in September, she enjoyed her best run of form of the year as she won the World Cups in Valencia and Karlovy Vary.
She will be racing at the World Cup in Tongyeong this weekend and another medal could be on the cards.
