The New Plymouth World Cup 2023 Statistical Breakdown

Benjamin Eastman

After a double home victory for New Zealand in New Plymouth, it is time to dig a little deeper into the race itself. To start with, let’s look at the macro perspective of how the women’s and men’s races unfolded. Race Developments Nicole Van Der Kaay was never more than a few seconds behind the lead and once she assumed control of the race on the bike she did not relinquish it. Ainsley Thorpe was with her compatriot throughout. On the last lap of the run, though, she could not…

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Andrea Hansen Announces Retirement From Triathlon

Benjamin Eastman

Three time Olympian Andrea Hansen has announced her retirement from elite triathlon. After a career spanning 18 years, she has taken the decision to step away from the sport and devote her time to raising her 2 year-old daughter. Prior to her announcement, Hansen had not raced since last July’s Commonwealth Games. In Birmingham she finished 18th in the individual race and 4th in the Mixed Team Relay. She was still in the running to make the New Zealand Olympic team next year. The recent performances of Ainsley Thorpe and,…

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The Batista Brothers and 4 Stories You Might Have Missed

Benjamin Eastman

With racing in three continents to track at the weekend, it would be understandable if a couple of stories slipped through the cracks. With that in mind, read on to find five stories that you might have missed from the last weekend of March. A New Dutch Relay Candidate? As things stand, the Netherlands lie in 18th in the Mixed Team Relay Olympic rankings. As a result, they are not in line to send a relay to the next Olympic Games. Of course, that could change over the next year.…

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Positives To Take Amid World Cup Reality Check For Jorgensen

Benjamin Eastman

The return of former Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen continued at the World Cup in New Plymouth this weekend. After winning a bronze medal in her first race back at the Oceania Cup in Taupo last month, it was hard going into New Plymouth to gauge where Jorgensen would fit. In our preview, we predicted a top-5 finish for her. Her run had looked strong in Taupo and with another month of training under her belt it did not seem too outlandish. At the same time, New Plymouth represented a step…

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Quarteira Junior Cup Goes Down to the Wire

Benjamin Eastman

After the excitement of the Quarteira European Cup yesterday, the European Junior Cup at the same venue took place today. A full strength French Junior contingent started off the back of their test weekend in Cannes. Although, Ilona Hadhoum was a late withdrawal. Her much anticipated showdown with Margareta Vrablova will have to wait for now. In both the men’s and women’s races, tight finishes were the order of the day. For much of the run, it was almost impossible to call the winner in either Sprint distance event. Women’s…

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Let’s Talk About Hayden Wilde’s Swim in New Plymouth

Benjamin Eastman

Hayden Wilde was peerless in the men’s field on his way to gold at the New Plymouth World Cup. After a difficult day at WTCS Abu Dhabi when he was let down by his equipment, he was quickly able to shake off any lingering disappointment and reaffirm his credentials as a challenger for the world title this season. En route to victory, he logged the fastest bike and run splits of the day and at no point did he look troubled by the challenge of those around him. Wilde’s prowess…

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Wilde Cruises to Homecoming Win in New Plymouth

Benjamin Eastman

As the men’s field ran into the Tasman Sea, all eyes were on home favourite Hayden Wilde. Last time out in New Plymouth, Wilde had come away with a 4th place. While Olympic and WTCS medals have followed in the subsequent four years, a World Cup win has eluded Wilde. In front of home crowds, he now had a chance to tick that box. A European double punch led the way in the water as youngsters Nicolò Strada and Ricardo Batista exited first in 9:01. Trent Thorpe was next out,…

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Van Der Kaay’s Golden Run Continues With Another Win

Benjamin Eastman

Overcast conditions awaited the athletes in New Plymouth as they walked out to the start line in the women’s race. The volcanic ash beach was perhaps appropriate given how Nicole Van Der Kaay’s form has erupted this season. After three consecutive wins, the question remained as to whether anyone could slow her inexorable run. In a wholly expected plot twist, it was Emma Jeffcoat that led out swim. Jeffcoat has been in sublime swimming form of late and looked in total control. The waves of the sea made it hard…

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Beaugrand a Class Apart as Thorn Shocks in Quarteira

Benjamin Eastman

As the European Cup season took its first steps into the Olympic distance for 2023, a field brimming with talent lined up in both the men’s and women’s events in Quarteira. Lisa Tertsch was a late withdrawal a few days prior but that did little to diminish what was already a hotly anticipated event. Women’s race Under sunny skies the women ran into the sea and the sea said no. For several athletes, the opening dolphin dives into the water did not quite bring the speed they may have hoped…

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De Koning Wins Again as Murray Bounces Back in Namibia

Benjamin Eastman

Swakopmund is rapidly becoming a vital hub in Namibia in the realms of triathlon and energy. A green hydrogen power station has been commissioned in the town and in November HDF (Hydrogen de France) Energy announced its financing of the plant. On a side note, HDF will also be financing Zimbabwe’s first hydrogen plant. Depending on one’s preference, critics of the move could reach either for complaints of neo-colonialism or of an over-extended neoliberalism, not least given the involvement of a western European nation-state. In the words of Taylor Swift,…

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How to Qualify for the 2024 Italian Olympic Triathlon Team

Benjamin Eastman

With a lot of young talent coming through, Italy could be a sleeping giant on the world stage in triathlon. In the here and now, though, the Italian team is already burgeoning with talent. The race to make the Olympic team in Paris will therefore be fierce. Despite a 4th place in Leeds last year, it also seems like we have not yet seen the full extent of what an Italian Mixed Team Relay is capable of. Expect that to change this year as the team pushes to lock up…

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Last Time Out: A Look Back to New Plymouth in 2019

Benjamin Eastman

It has been four years since the last World Cup race took place in New Zealand. For years, New Plymouth was a fixture on the circuit and served typically as an early season hit-out for some of the best triathletes in the world. This weekend, the event makes its long-awaited return. After that big thing happened in 2020, the world is a different place and so too is the landscape of elite triathlon. New Plymouth offers clues as to just how different the triathlon scene now looks. Upon looking back…

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Comparing the Performances of the French and German Juniors

Benjamin Eastman

The French and German Junior tests for 2023 took place less than two weeks apart with both containing a number of great performances. Given the talent involved and the proximity of the events, it is hard to avoid comparing how the respective athletes stack up against one another. The purpose of this article is not to say which country is better or which athletes were definitively the best. The goal is simply to mine the information available and see what comes out. It is important to note that the athletes…

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How Did the German Juniors Perform at Their Tests?

Benjamin Eastman

On Sunday, the first German Junior test took place in Leipzig. The athletes competed over a 400m swim and then a 3000m run, with a break between. The top-16 performers of each gender were subsequently invited to Kienbaum to participate in the second test. The top-3 finishers of each gender in Kienbaum would then be selected for the European Junior Cup in Caorle in May. In turn, the results at Caorle will determine the selection for the World Junior Championships in Hamburg. Today, we will be breaking down the performances…

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The Issues of the Recent African Cup Races

Benjamin Eastman

At the recent African Cups in Maselspoort and Nelson Mandela Bay, there have been some good races. At the same time, though, there have been a couple of factors that have undermined the events. These issues are organisational and do not detract from the performances of the athletes. After all, the athletes are showing up and putting their best foot forward. However, in light of the recent African Cups, it is clear that the events could benefit from some attention from World Triathlon going forward. The first issue is small…

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