The third round of the 2023 French Grand Prix will take place in Metz this weekend. With several teams adding big names to their line-ups, the current leaders of the men’s and women’s standings could be vulnerable.
The current women’s series leaders, Poissy Triathlon, have a 4 point buffer at the top of the table.
After missing the last round in Bordeaux, Lea Coninx returns for the team. Coninx won a bronze medal at the season opener in Fréjus and so will be a valuable addition. Likewise Poissy have added Natalie Van Coevorden. The Australian was among the best swimmers at WTCS Montreal last weekend so will be a key figure in countering the swim strength of Poissy’s rivals. Kristelle Congi also races again after consecutive top-5 finishes so far in the season.
Two of the team’s top performers, though, Sandra Dodet and Ilona Hadhoum will not be present. In their place, Poissy’s team will be completed by Candice Denizot and Marie Wattiez.
Issy Triathlon are closest challengers to Poissy and trail by 4 points.
Right now, though, there is an element of the unknown surrounding their prospects in Metz. Although they have the Merles (Audrey and Celia) due to start – both of whom should be reliable for top-10 finishes – they have two Juniors among their entries. Clara Bernard and Lisa Jaillet are promising talents but, being born in 2006 and 2007, they are extremely young. It is therefore be too soon to expect anything crazy from them.
However, Issy have Kate Waugh and Sara Vilic listed among their reserves. If either of those pair race, the situation will look a lot more promising. Waugh, in particular, is having a great year and logged a best WTCS finish in Yokohama. With her on the team, Issy could look to overhaul Poissy. As things stand, Laura Moreau is the fifth woman due to start.
In a home race for Metz, the team will be hoping that Zsanett Bragmayer carries her form from Montreal back to France. The Hungarian finished 8th in a brilliant display and a top-10 in Metz would go a long way for her team.
Joining her will be Margot Garabedian. In Fréjus, Garabedian showed her importance to the team however she slipped to 43rd in Bordeaux. If she can get back into the top-10, Metz could be able to get onto the podium overall at their home event.
Claire Barthelemy, Nora Nouri and Pauline Landron complete the Metz squad.
Having finished 3rd in Fréjus, Triathlon Club Liévin slipped to 12th in Bordeaux. Still, there are reasons for them to be confident of bouncing back in Metz.
Petra Kurikova is back and instantly adds some much-needed firepower to the team. A World Cup winner from 2022, the Czech athlete can be relied upon to deliver a high finish. Furthermore Liévin add the Hedgeland sisters (Jaz and Kira) to the team. As such, the team should be in a position to fight for a podium in Metz. Lea Richard and Emma Ducreux are also on the squad and could chip in with important points.
Brive Limousin will be heavily British. Most notably, Tilly Anema is back on the start list. She opened her French season with an 11th place in Fréjus but then opted against racing in Bordeaux. Instead, Anema won the British trial to qualify for European Championships in Balikesir. Evidently, she is in top form and will look to venture into the top-10 in Metz.
Two British Juniors will be joining Anema. Bethany Cook will use Metz as a final hit-out before the World Junior Championships while Isabella Hayes will also be racing. Cook, in particular, has proven herself against Senior athletes this season. Either one, though, could conceivably put themselves in the top-10 with a big race.
Celine Senia and Morgan Branchoux are the two French athletes on the Brive team.
Vals du Dauphiné Olympic lose Emma Lombardi, the race winner in Bordeaux, from their ranks. In her place, they add Nicole Van Der Kaay and Cathia Schär. The latter enjoyed a personal best WTCS finish in Montreal and logged the top bike split in the field. Meanwhile, the former won the New Plymouth World Cup and should be in the mix for a win in Metz.
Fresh off strong showings at Bundesliga Schliersee, Tanja Neubert and Margereta Bicanova will be starting for Les Tritons Meldois. An 8th place in Bordeaux saw the team move up to 12th overall. With Neubert in sparkling form, they could even look to break into the top-10.
The surprise package of the season, Les Sables Vendée Triathlon, won’t have their star from Bordeaux. Jeanne Lehair won the silver medal last time out and had a big hand in helping the team to their current position of 3rd overall. Nevertheless, the team will not be too worried.
With Ekaterina Shabalina, the winner of the European Cup in Wels, they have an in-form athlete that could step up and replace some of Lehair’s points. Jess Ewart-McTigue could likewise contribute heavily.
Tiphaine Brun is also enjoying a strong season and so Les Sables Vendée should not want for scorers this weekend.
Based on the entry lists, the men’s race is delicately poised.
Saint-Jean-des-Monts Vendée have Mario Mola and Leo Bergere only listed as reserves. Together, they represent the race winner and bronze medallist from Fréjus and Bordeaux, respectively. If neither race, Saint-Jean-des-Monts could be in trouble. If one of them races, though, the situation becomes rosier.
However, an even bigger issue faces the team.
Louis Vitiello and Nathan Grayel are also listed as reserves. Both have been integral to the team’s success this year and their absence would be a major blow. Although Saint-Jean-des-Monts are 8 points clear at the top, such leads can fade fast.
The likes of Max Stapely, Daniel Dixon and Francesc Godoy are due to race and should do a solid job. Yet they will realistically not contribute like Grayel or Vitiello have this year. As a result, it is hard to see the team winning a third round in a row.
Les Sables Vendée Triathlon are closest to Saint-Jean-des-Monts in the standings but they too lose a key man.
After classy displays at both races so far, Pierre Le Corre will sit Metz out. In his place, Les Sables Vendée have added Kenji Nener. After a good showing in Montreal, Nener should provide a top-10 finish. His challenge, though, will be to imitate Le Corre’s podium finish in Fréjus.
Jeremy Quindos is still available for the team which is a real boon. With Australians Oscar Dart and Luke Willian slated to start, Les Sables Vendée also have depth.
One obvious challenge to Les Sables Vendée will be Poissy. In Metz, the defending champions have a full-strength team. Dorian Coninx will lead the way and hope to log a higher finish than he achieved in Bordeaux. Jawad Abdelmoula will likewise look to get back to his best. Last year, Abdelmoula won the season opener in Fréjus and so is a proven race winner in the series. If he can rediscover that form, the other teams could be in trouble.
Aurelien Raphael, Tom Richard and Anthony Pujades complete what is among the most rounded teams on the start list.
In any normal situation, the loss of a WTCS race winner from a team would hurt. Triathlon Club Liévin have simply shrugged at the departure of Hayden Wilde (the winner in Bordeaux) and added another WTCS winner through Matthew Hauser. Having claimed a maiden WTCS win in Montreal, Hauser is on a high.
If he can maintain his levels from last weekend, he should be in the mix for a win in Metz. The only thing that could really hold him back would be an emotional come-down Montreal. That aside, though, he will probably be on the podium again this weekend.
Hauser’s Australian teammate Brandon Copeland will also be racing. Harry Leleu, Hugo Winock and Jamie Riddle then fill out the Liévin ranks.
For the home team, Metz will hope for another big performance from Maxime Hueber Moosbrugger. The silver medallist in Bordeaux, he also performed well in Schliersee at last weekend’s Bundesliga event. Metz can also call upon Christopher Perham after his win at the British European Championships trial. The key to the team, though, will be Hueber Moosbrugger.
On the note of British men, Valence have added the best of the bunch to their team.
Alex Yee will be making his first start of the year in the Grand Prix. Unbeaten in 2023, he is an obvious favourite for the win. If Yee can take the gold, Valence should be able to rise from what has been an awkward start to the year. Jack Willis is another British athlete in their squad.
With Callum Mcclusky, Joao Nuno Batista and Lucas Jouin also racing, they have plenty of speed to support Yee.
As a result, although the team lag in 13th place, they can expect a boost in Metz.
View the start lists here.
