Pierre Le Corre has quite a year.
With WTCS medals, French Grand Prix medals, long distance medals and a World Military Championship win, he has ticked pretty much every box available. The only thing missing from Le Corre’s eclectic 2023 collection is a World Cup medal. Luckily for him, the Tangier World Cup presents the perfect opportunity for his next side quest.
With the newly-crowned world champion Dorian Coninx withdrawing earlier this week, Le Corre will now wear number 1 in Tangier.
He is in phenomenal form, having just medalled at the WTCS Final in Pontevedra, and will be near-impossible to bet against.
His teammate, Tom Richard, will also be racing after a 12th place in Pontevedra. He has performed well over the Sprint distance this year in the French Grand Prix and also placed 7th at WTCS Sunderland. It would therefore be no surprise to see him push for a high finish.
Several men that performed well at the World U23 Championships will also be racing.
Mitch Kolkman won the bronze medal and will look to carry his form forwards. In addition, Panagiotis Bitados is coming off a 4th place at the World U23 Championships. He is enjoying a brilliant debut year and a first World Cup top-10 should be in the offing. Perhaps a first World Cup medal will follow too.
At the same time, there are two men that raced well in the U23 race in Pontevedra, but for one reason or another will not be overly happy.
Esteban Basanta Fouz was in the running for the win but fell to 4th place and was disqualified. He showed all of his best qualities with a fast all-round performance in Pontevedra, yet the disqualification will sting. He will therefore attempt to right the wrong in Tangier and could push for a podium.
Likewise, his teammate David Cantero del Campo will be another with a point to prove. He only managed 12th at the World U23 Championships but clocked the fastest run split of the U23 field by 35 seconds.
He also won the Valencia World Cup at the start of September and cannot be overlooked.
Elsewhere on the start list, Tyler Mislawchuk finished 9th at the WTCS Final and has found a really consistent level in 2023. He won a medal at the Huatulco World Cup and is known to have a ferocious finishing kick.
Vetle Bergsvik Thorn, the European Games champion, will be racing after his 13th place in Pontevedra. Moreover, Ricardo Batista, the European Super Sprint champion, will tackle Tangier after finishing 14th in Pontevedra. Batista also won a bronze medal at the New Plymouth World Cup at the start of the year.
With power to spare on the bike and a startling turn of pace on the run, Thorn and Batista could be big threats.
More than anyone, though, there is one name to watch in Tangier.
Jawad Abdelmoula skipped the WTCS Final and has dedicated a lot of energy to the looming race. At the first World Cup in his home country, he will want to put on a show.
Abdelmoula is a WTCS medallist, a World Cup race winner and a splendid runner. He will be primed to perform in Tangier. With home support to carry him, it is very tempting to pick him for the win.
And yet, the threat of Le Corre remains all the same.
Judging by the speed of the men on the start list, the medals might not be settled until the very last metres of the race.
TriStats Predictions
- Pierre Le Corre
- Jawad Abdelmoula
- David Cantero del Campo
- Ricardo Batista
- Tyler Mislawchuk
