The first men’s WTCS action of 2022
came down to two friends and two Olympic medallists, Alex Yee (GBR) and Hayden
Wilde (NZL), on Saturday afternoon in Yokohama, back in the country they had
their coming-of-age moments last year, both looking back to their very best
form. The two ran away from the field and were shoulder-to-shoulder for the
second half of a draining 10km run, but it was Yee how found an extra gear down
the long blue carpet to the tape to land his second Series win, France’s Leo
Bergere crossing in third to become the Series leader after three races.
The morning started raining in
Yokohama, but by the time the athletes were lining up, at 13h, the temperatures
both of water and air were high enough for the race to be a non-wetsuit one.
The high temperatures had an impact on the race then since the first minutes,
with Frenchman Vincent Luis showing another dominant swim in the calmed waters
of the Yokohama bay, leading a long line of athletes out of the water to the
pontoon for the second dive in, and stretching the field so much that only his
fellow countryman Dorian Coninx was able to follow him.
They both were the first ones
mounting on their bikes, with some of the favourites for the victory in
Yokohama, like Alex Yee or Hayden Wilde, almost 40 seconds behind. But neither
Luis nor Coninx were able to break away, and a massive group joined them in the
first km of the bike course, with Yee and Wilde desperately trying to catch up.
Both of them did, in only two laps,
to then join the long train of athletes -39 on lap three and onwards- that used
the best of their biking skills to avoid crashes and navigate the u-turns lap
after lap. It was not an easy task, with such a massive group, but it made
things a bit easer for the chasers, led by Jacob Birtwhistle and Matthew
McElroy, who managed to keep the breakaway always under a minute of difference.
Meanwhile, the massive group took
turns to push on front, with Wilde and Pierre Le Corre trying to stay upfront
and out of trouble as much as possible, but when it all came to the last of the
nine laps, both of them dropped to the end of the group to avoid the messy
transition that was coming up.
And it was messy indeed, with over 35
athletes hitting the carpet at the same time, and it was Germany’s Jonas
Schomburg the one who got on his running shoes first, with Bergere, Le Corre
and Takumi Hojo (JPN) closely behind. And ti was clear at that moment that Luis
was having physical problems. The double World Champion was almost last of the
group to start the run, but he didn’t have his usual kick and was not able to
catch up with the lead group. Meanwhile, Yee and Wilde came from behind and
moved 30 places up to quickly chase Schomburg and decided to go for it with
still 9km to go.
The strategy paid off for both of
them, and with no one able to follow, they went full gas on one of the quickest
5km ever seen in Yokohama, a pace that was clearly impossible for everyone
else. With Wilde commanding and Yee in control right on his heels, they both
tested continuously each other, trying to decide when it will be the right time
for the last push. It took them almost 9 km to decide it, with both of them
running shoulder to shoulder up to the blue carpet.
It was when both had the finish tape
on sight when Yee showed that he is a hard one to beat on the run, and
out-sprinted the Kiwi to claim his second victory on the World Triathlon
Championship Series circuit, Wilde bowing to the hundreds of spectators just before
crossing the finish line in second place, his first ever podium at the WTCS
level.
The third place was for Bergere, who
seems to be a lucky spot for him, having finished in that same third place in
Edmonton 2021, Montreal 2021, Hamburg 2020 and Hamburg 2019. His regularity has
put him on top of the Maurice Lacroix World Triathlon Championship Series
rankings.
The fourth place was for a pumped
Matthew Hauser (AUS), who had a magnificent run split of 29.33. Another
Frenchman, Dorian Coninx, closing the podium with his 5th place.
“I am really pleased with the result.
Some things to work on but that’s always positive to take away from the first
race of the year. The win is amazing. Kudos to Hayden (Wilde), he was lightning
on the run. I had to summon every ounce of my being to get around at the end,”
explained the Brit after his victory. “The first 5km (of the run) Hyden (Wilde)
really took it out and I was a little down on transition so had to work quite
hard to get back on. At that point, Hayden was really moving at 2km and it was
just us two and we started to run shoulder to shoulder. It’s nice to share the
moments as we’ve grown up in the circuit together, to toe the line against each
other. He beat me last weekend (Arena Games Triathlon Singapore). I beat him
here, it’s going to be an exciting year,” he said.
“I thought it was going to be easier,
but it was actually harder. I forgot how hard racing was. I am enjoying being
back, any racing we can get, I will take. After two years nearly of not much
being available, it’s great to have the circuit back again.”“It kind of felt
like the Olympics again without big Kristian (Blummenfelt). Alex (Yee) and I
just battled together. I knew I had to have a really good transition to get out
on the run quick and hit that first 5km hard to put a bit of sting in Alex’
legs. I may have burnt a few too many matches for myself at the end, just
didn’t quite have that kick. But I am really happy with the second place,” said
the Kiwi. “I was actually just behind Alex coming into transition after the
swim and I was a bit disorientated, didn’t even know where my bike was even
though there was only a few in there. Just worked really hard for two laps,
somehow bridged the gap, just had to stay in contention and let the legs group
and it paid off. Happy days.”
“My tactic was taking a little more
risk than usual to have no regrets, so I am really pleased with this third
place”, said Bergere. “I tried to catch Hayden and Alex, but the guys in front
were just too fast for me. I had a hard and lonely run, but I had a lot of fun,
” he explained.
“It’s great to have the crowds back
especially here in Japan, they love spots and triathlon, it’s good to have them
back on the side of the course here.”
Results: Elite Men https://www.triathlon.org/results/result/2022_world_triathlon_championship_series_yokohama/544224?mc_cid=82d02e7df4&mc_eid=6139649918
1. Alex
Yee GBR 01:43:30
2. Hayden
Wilde NZL 01:43:40
3. Léo
Bergere FRA 01:43:59
4. Matthew
Hauser AUS 01:44:09
5. Pierre
Le Corre FRA 01:44:17
ABOUT WORLD TRIATHLON
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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
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