The
unpredictable 2020 World Triathlon season comes to a close on Saturday in the
city of Valencia when the final sprint-distance World Cup of the year takes to
Spain’s east coast. This may only be the fourth World Cup able to be held in
the past ten months, but the standard of racing has been incredible with world
number ones, Olympic Champions and legends of the sport taking the precious
opportunities to gather on the blue carpet.
This weekend
promises to follow suit, with World Champion Vincent Luis wearing the number
one in a men’s race that includes the likes of Alistair Brownlee, Henri
Schoeman and Gustav Iden.
Switzerland’s
double Olympic medallist Nicola Spirig will be one to watch in a wide-open
women’s race and on a pan-flat course where Lisa Tertsch and Verena Steinhauser
could challenge.
The race
starts with a 750m, one lap swim of Valencia Marina, transitioning into a
4-lap, 20km bike around the edge of the harbour. The 5km run follows exactly
the same route for just one circuit and you can watch all the action as it
unfolds on TriathlonLIVE.tv.
Women’s Race
Saturday 7
November
2.15pm CET
First to
line up will be the elite women, led by Verena Steinhauser. The Italian has
been in sparkling form with a top 10 in Karlovy Vary followed by bronze in
Arzachena thanks to a lightening bike segment. Despite several third places at
this level the top two podium places have eluded Steinhauser to now. This could
be the race to change that.
Germany’s
Lisa Tertsch again proved she is one of the fastest out there over 5km, scoring
comfortably the fastest splits in the last two races in Sardinia and Karlovy
Vary. A good swim here could see a first return to the World Cup podium since
her brilliant gold in Antwerp last year.
Olympic
Champion in 2012, silver medallist in 2016, Nicola Spirig picks up the path
towards a possible fifth Games in Tokyo with only a first World Cup appearance
of the year to test where her race-readiness is before what should be a huge
2021 of racing for the Swiss star.
Two
Brazilians with solid races in Karlovy Vary, Luisa Baptista and Djenyfer
Arnold, will be looking to close out 2020 in positive fashion, while Britain’s
Beth Potter was in sizzling form on both bike and run in Arzachena to seal a
silver that will leave her full of confidence in Valencia.
A
predictably strong Spanish contingent will be spearheaded by Anna Godoy
Contreras, Xisca Tous and Sara Perez Sala, with a host of local talent taking
the opportunity of some World Cup start experience on home turf.
Mexico’s
Michelle Flipo scored European Cup bronze up the coast in Barcelona at the end
of October and will be raring to go, Australia’s Natalie van Coevorden
continues to fly the flag for Oceania and also just needs a good position off
the bike to mount a serious challenge for the medals.
Full women’s
start list her https://www.triathlon.org/events/start_list/2020_valencia_itu_triathlon_world_cup/352338?mc_cid=e73d25f8a6&mc_eid=6139649918
Men’s Race
Saturday 7
November
4.45pm CET
It is hard
to look beyond France’s Vincent Luis as the favourite to land a fourth
successive 2020 gold in Valencia, but the men’s start list continues to pack in
big names that will be ready to pounce if the Frenchman shows any - however
unlikely - signs of end-of-year weariness. Luis has been able to hit the front
from the first strokes of the swim since the return to racing and whether flat
or hilly, sprint or standard distance, nothing has stood in his way.
It was
Kristian Blummenfelt who pushed him closest in Italy a month ago, where a tough
bike climb played to the Norwegians strengths. Teammate Gustav Iden would also
be more at home in the hills but will be looking for an explosive showing on
the flat roads of Valencia.
South
Africa’s Henri Schoeman made his return to the blue carpet in Sardinia, and
continues to gradually test his early Olympic preparations, while Jelle Geens
will have his eye on another trademark rapid 5km finale to put himself into
contention and could be one of the few who can stretch Luis over the closing
stages of the run if still in touch.
Alistair
Brownlee’s continues along the path to a second defence of his Olympic title
and knows that more displays like October’s in Arzachena will put him in prime
contention for a spot on the GB team alongside his brother.
Antonio
Serrat Seoane and Genis Grau will be looking to put together big races in their
native Spain, USA’s Tony Smoragiewicz and Brazilian Manoel Messias among the
talents who could be pushing for a podium spot at the pointy end of the race.
Full men’s
start list here. https://www.triathlon.org/events/start_list/2020_valencia_itu_triathlon_world_cup/352337?mc_cid=e73d25f8a6&mc_eid=6139649918
ABOUT WORLD
TRIATHLON
World
Triathlon is the international governing body for the Olympic sport of
triathlon and all related multisport disciplines around the world, including
duathlon, aquathlon, cross triathlon and winter triathlon. Triathlon made its
Olympic debut in Sydney 2000, with a third medal event, the Mixed Team Relay,
added to the programme at Tokyo 2020, while paratriathlon was first added to
the Paralympic programme at Rio 2016. World Triathlon is proudly committed to
the development of the sport worldwide, with inclusion, equality,
sustainability and transparency at our core as we seek to help triathletes at
all levels of the sport to be extraordinary.
No comments:
Post a Comment