Could we be about to witness an Olympic Champion become an ESports World Champion in the space of 10 months? The anticipation has been building from the moment that the partnership was agreed between World Triathlon and Super League Triathlon to crown triathlon’s first ESports World Champions with the Arena Games World Championship Series powered by Zwift. Finally, this weekend, the athletes will line up in Munich for the first steps down that title-winning road that blends virtual and real-life racing and that stops next in London (23 April) before the finale in Singapore (7 May). Full start lists can be found here. https://triathlon.org/events/start_lists/2022_arena_games_triathlon_series_munich_powered_by_zwift?mc_cid=2d7e638b5b&mc_eid=6139649918
For more detail on exactly how the
morning heats and afternoon finals will play out check here, https://triathlon.org/news/article/munich_prepares_to_host_first_of_three_stop_arena_games_triathlon_world_cha?mc_cid=2d7e638b5b&mc_eid=6139649918
and to watch the action unfold, simply tune in to TriathlonLive.tv and watch
for free from 11am CEST.
Men’s preview
Among the more experienced men on the
start list with previous Arena Games golds to their names are Alex Yee (GBR),
Marten Van Riel (BEL) and Justus Nieschlag (GER). It was the German who won the
pioneering inaugural event in Rotterdam back in August 2020 with a massive
final bike effort to edge out Vasco Vilaça.
It was Van Riel who picked up the
baton in March 2021 when the Games returned for a second year, narrowly
defeating double Olympic medallist Yee as the order for the final stage flipped
to bike-swim-run… all part of the exciting unpredictability of the format.
It was a result that Van Riel was
able to match back in Rotterdam a month later, Nieschlag this time with the
silver ahead of Johnny Brownlee. The Belgian displayed his remarkable
versatility across the short distance as he will have to once again if he is to
succeed this weekend, coming off the back of a record-busting 70.3 gold in
Dubai last month.
Plenty of exciting new faces will be
poolside in Munich’s Olympiapark too, alongside some experienced hands.
Portugal’s João Silva and Frenchman Aurelian Raphael will be out to show the
young guns that they still have the explosive power over short sharp racing to
hit the podium, the latter scooping bronze last year.
USA’s Chase McQueen will be looking
to pick up where he left off after an excellent 2021 that included Mixed Relay
gold at the WTCS Montreal, while Max Stapley (AUS) is out to make a name for
himself alongside more experienced Europeans including Russell White (IRL),
Alois Knabl (AUT) and Gianluca Pozzatti (ITA).
Men’s Heat 1: Marten Van Riel, Alois
Knabl, Chase McQueen, Gianluca Pozzatti, Simon Henseleit, Max Stapley, Russell
White, Aurelien Raphael.
Men’s Heat 2: Alex Yee, Gordon
Benson, Joao Silva, Darr Smith, Tjebbe Kaindl, Justus Nieschlag, Jannik
Schaufler, Donald Hillebregt.
Women’s preview
With some of the bigger names in the
women’s side waiting to make their 2022 debuts in London later in the month,
the stage could be set for another 2021 winner, Beth Potter (GBR) to continue
her rich form. A double World Cup winner in Korea at the end of last year and
with a Europe Cup under her belt at the end of March, a repeat of that dominant
Arena Games London display could well be on the cards.
Italy’s Ilaria Zane is no stranger to
the demands of the format, however, and will be eager to build on her strong
showing at the indoor Europe Cup Lievin last month. Teammate Luisa Iogna-Prat
could be among the surprise packages to challenge for the medals, too.
Comfortably the youngest in the field
is Netherlands’ Barbara De Koning. Still only 19 years of age, she has multiple
Junior and Youth titles to her name and will relish the chance to race with
some of the biggest names on the circuit following her 11th place in the U23
World Championships in Edmonton.
Anna Godoy Contreras stars for Spain,
10th at both the Rotterdam and London Arena Games events last year, while
Zsanett Bragmayer, 12th at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and just off the podium
in 4th at WTCS Hamburg, could be lining up an explosive performance on her
debut.
Women’s Heat 1: Beth Potter, Lena
Meißner, Luisa Iogna-Prat, Gina Sereno, Ilaria Zane, Barbara De Koning, Iria
Rodriguez.
Women’s Heat 2: Zsanett Bragmayer,
Anabel Knoll, Alissa Konig, Petra Kurikova, Romana Gajdošová, Anna Godoy.
WATCH THE HEATS! COMMENTED BY TOMMY
ZAFERES https://www.triathlonlive.tv/featured/videos/2022-arena-games-triathlon-munich-heats?mc_cid=2d7e638b5b&mc_eid=6139649918
WATCH THE FINALS! https://www.triathlonlive.tv/featured/videos/2022-arena-games-triathlon-munich-finals?mc_cid=2d7e638b5b&mc_eid=6139649918
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