There may be no Hayden Wilde in
Sardinia this weekend as attentions turn to the first ever WTCS Cagliari, but
for those chasing the current Maurice Lacroix Ranking number one with just
three races to go to decide the 2022 World Triathlon Champion, the target is
clear.
Wilde has won twice in 2022, Alex Yee
likewise, but the Brit has also raced just twice all season, while the Kiwi has
been able to add two silvers to his haul. For Leo Bergere, three bronze and a
silver represent an impressive medal tally, but a WTCS gold remains elusive.
Can either reign in the leader in his absence?
For those with good memories the WTCS
Cagliari course doubles the length of the 2019 World Cup circuit on which
Alistair Brownlee took gold, as well as reversing the direction of the bike and
run. It all begins with a 1.5km beach swim, transitioning to the fast and flat
ten-lap, 40km bike and then its a five-lap/10km run to the tape and precious
world championship points heading to the penultimate race of the season in
Bermuda. Game very much on.
WATCH all the action on Saturday 8
October from 2pm CEST
Bergere breaking out
Wearing the number one for only the
second time in his career will be Leo Bergere, the Frenchman who has taken
every opportunity that has come his way this season to gather a handful of
Series medals and seemingly always lie in contention.
A regular top-10 finisher, the
conversion to podium powerhouse began in earnest last year in Montreal when the
26-year-old kicked off a brilliant sequence of medalling in six out of seven
starts. A strong runner Bergère may be, but it will surely require a
significant lead off the bike if he is to hold off some of the notable names
that will be bearing down on him over the final 10km.
One-Two-Yee?Two Series wins and a
Commonwealth Games title has made for an excellent 2022 so far for Alex Yee,
but he knows it will need to be a third WTCS gold in Cagliari to keep his title
dreams alive. It was back in 2017 that he suffered a horrendous crash on the
hilly first incarnation of the Cagliari World Cup course, and it is here that
Yee will have to deliver again after winning in Yokohama and Montreal and
crashing out in Leeds.
Having missed Hamburg to focus on a
successful Commonwealth Games, the 24-year-old will have faith in the decision to
miss Super League and focus on the World Championship title. Hitting 3,000
points with two races to go will be just the set up he would want before
heading in to a showdown with Wilde in Bermuda and Abu Dhabi.
Big gains for Geens
Belgian Jelle Geens will be confident
in his chances of challenging for the title, too, his win late last year in Abu
Dhabi round one followed by enough solid top 10s to keep his name in the hunt,
and fresh memories of losing a sprint finish with Yee in September’s French GP
Final to keep him motivated.
Morocco’s Jawad Abdelmoula surprised
himself with World Cup gold at the end of 2021, then threw himself into the
middle of the WTCS whirlwind with a top 10 in Montreal showing his versatility
and bronze in Hamburg his undoubted prowess. A first Olympic distance at this
level will be another major test for the 28-year-old.
Matthew Hauser comes to Cagliari off
the back of a rollercoaster few weeks of Super League racing, Commonwealth
Games bronze and a first Series silver in Hamburg. The Australian is clicking
into the kind of form and confidence that nobody doubted was around the corner,
and he would love to launch himself into the Series top 10 with another big
result here.
Injury comebacks in Cagliari
Britain’s Jonathan Brownlee is back
in action after the accident that ended his WTCS Leeds with a broken elbow, and
will be fired up for another showdown, while Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo also makes
a return from injury, ready to relaunch his own ambitions on the top 10.
Spain’s three-time World Champion
Mario Mola makes only his second Series start in two years after becoming a dad
and recalibrating his career, and after running out of course in Valencia
chasing down Manoel Messias, it will be interesting to see how he fares over
the 10km here. The USA’s Kevin McDowell also makes a welcome return along with
the irrepressible Richard Murray, the 33-year-old continuing his quest for a
place on the Paris 2024 start line.
Japan’s Kenji Nener and Takumi Hojo,
Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk, Dorian Coninx (FRA) and Bence Bicsak (HUN) all have
the potential to make a big impact on the race, while Norway’s Vetle Bergsvik
Thorn will want to give Norwegian triathlon fans something else to cheer on
this weekend outside of Hawaii.
Men’s WTCS Cagliari https://www.triathlonlive.tv/videos/2022-wtcs-cagliari-men?mc_cid=aee8b1e472&mc_eid=6139649918
Saturday 8 October
2pm CESt Full start list HERE. https://triathlon.org/events/start_list/2022_world_triathlon_championship_series_cagliari/563477?mc_cid=aee8b1e472&mc_eid=6139649918
ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON
World Triathlon is the international
governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic 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 para triathlon 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