One of the perks of a life as an international triathlete is the travel. At times it can also be a disadvantage, but it certainly facilitates an exotic lifestyle.
Ivana Kuriackova has embodied that lifestyle over the past six weeks. In that time, she has raced four Continental Cups in three countries.
Her travels started in Venezuela at the La Guaira Americas Cup. In her first race of the season, Kuriackova ended up in 5th. Next was a trip to Cuba. At the La Habana Americas Cup she put herself into the medals as she finished 2nd.
Across her travels, she was joined by other Slovakian athletes, including Richard Varga, Margareta Bicanova and Peter Rojtas.
Another silver medal followed in Chile at the Villarrica Americas Cup. At the same race, Varga also earned a silver medal making it a double success for Slovakia.
Then, one week later, Kuriackova capped off her sequence with a win at the Pucón Americas Cup.
For Kuriackova, then, it has been a month of racing and travelling around Latin America.
One aspect that has come out of Kuriackova’s travels, to a degree, seems to be the validation of the concept of racing oneself into fitness. Sometimes training is the best path to improvement. Other times, there is no substitute for actual racing.
Given how Kuriackova essentially improved over every race up to her final victory, there could be a case to be made for how the racing has sharpened her ahead of the rest of her year. That is not to say that racing endlessly is a great idea, but in such concentrated blocks there can be merit to the idea.
Moreover, since the start of her run, Kuriackova has also gained over 20 places in the world rankings and now sits 59th in the world. Prior to Pucón, her ranking even peaked at 58th.
That boost in ranking will be invaluable going forward.
With her newfound level, she will likely be able to start at WTCS races this year.
Thus far, Kuriackova has raced twice in the WTCS: in Yokohama in 2015 and in Montreal last year. Yokohama yielded a DNF. However, in Montreal she finished 26th. With greater exposure at the upper echelon of the sport, there is no reason for her to not break into the top-20 at such races.
One thing that has stood out about Kuriackova in her run of racing has been the ability she has shown in shown in the swim. She led the field out of the water in La Guaira and La Habana. Similarly, she was towards the front into T1 in both her Chilean stops too.
With the current character of the women’s race in the WTCS favouring fast swims and breakaways, Kuriackova will likely benefit from such a style. Of course, it is one thing to be a big fish in a Continental Cup pond and boss the swim. It is another to do the same in a WTCS field with capable swimmers such as Flora Duffy, Sophie Coldwell and Bianca Seregni.
However Kuriackova will only be able to discover how her swim truly matches up when she actually gets to race in the WTCS.
That, though, is a subject for the future.
For now, Kuriackova will be able to enjoy a trip home after her South American adventures. When she turns her sights to her next races, she will do so battle hardened and with extra medals in her pocket.
