Hong Kong put on quite the show at the weekend as it hosted a World Triathlon Cup for the first time. Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP) and Sian Rainsley (GBR) came out on top with virtuoso performances after both made the front pack breakaway and then out-duelled some formidable rivals on the run.

In addition to the action itself, the outcomes in Hong Kong have shaken up the Olympic Qualification rankings. Read on to find out the latest risers on the road to Paris.

The Men’s Olympic Rankings

As was the case at the first World Cup of the year in Napier, Gonzalez made one of the most significant jumps in the rankings. He upgraded his bronze medal in New Zealand to gold and thus climbed eight spots in the rankings. The Spanish athlete now finds himself in 28th place overall. Crucially, he is now the third highest ranked man from his country and he has certainly put himself in the frame for Olympic selection.

Gonzalez’s presence in the top-30 helps Spain towards its ambition of qualifying three men to Paris. The men’s silver medallist in Hong Kong, Antonio Serrat Seoane, has already qualified for the Spanish Olympic team and is the highest ranked Spanish man. He rose one place to 13th after his Hong Kong performance. Meanwhile, Roberto Sanchez Mantecon has maintained his spot in 20th place.

Furthermore, another Spanish athlete moved closer to the top-30 as David Castro Fajardo’s 11th place pushed him up four places to 31st overall. Castro will look to usurp Gonzalez over the coming races and their internal race to Paris will likely form a fascinating sub-plot going forwards.

Luke Willian (AUS) cruised into 45th in the rankings after claiming an outstanding 4th place in Hong Kong. With only Matthew Hauser currently selected on the Australian Olympic triathlon team, Willian will hope his rise continues as he seeks to press his Paris case.

Elsewhere, Emil Holm (DEN) may have likewise taken a step closer to qualifying for the Olympic Games. He finished 13th in Hong Kong and as a result moved up four places in the rankings to 72nd. At this point in time, that looks like it could be enough to make it to Paris should Holm hold his position.

The Women’s Olympic Rankings

Perhaps the most noteworthy rise in the women’s Olympic Qualification rankings came from Elizabeth Bravo (ECU). She finished 4th in Hong Kong after reeling off a scintillating 5km run to slice through the field; her showing saw her gain eight places in the rankings. Now, the athlete from Ecuador stands in 48th place overall and seems a near-lock to qualify for Paris.

The women’s race winner, Rainsley, made one of the biggest raw improvements with regards to the Olympic rankings. Her win propelled her up twenty places to 86th. While it will have no real impact on Britain’s goal of qualifying three women to Paris, which is already essentially assured, the rise represented just desserts for a sterling display.

One move that deserves plenty of consideration is that of Zuzana Michalickova (SVK). The promising young star placed 8th in Hong Kong, thereby gaining eight spots in the Olympic rankings. She now finds herself ranked 68th and is ever so close to earning Olympic qualification. While the status quo will likely evolve over the coming weeks, a spot in the top-65 may just be enough for qualification. Michalickova, then, is extremely close to nailing down her ticket to Paris.

Finally, the performances of Ilaria Zane (ITA) once again warrant attention. As was the case after an impressive showing in Napier, her performance in Hong Kong saw her climb in the Olympic rankings. Her 5th place finish in the latter was an improvement of one place from that in the former. She therefore climbed two places in the Olympic rankings to 32nd overall.

With Verena Steinhauser and Bianca Seregni nestled inside the top-30, Zane’s form will likely determine whether three Italian women qualify for Paris. Based on her start to the season, few will bet against her rising further still.

Stay up to date with the latest in the races to the Olympic Games as well as all the upcoming action on TriathlonLive.tv and across World Triathlon social channels.

Monday 25 March signals triathlon’s first concrete qualification milestone on the path to Paris 2024, with the confirmation of nine teams going to the Games. Each of these National Federation is thus automatically guaranteed two men and two women for this year’s Olympics: a foregone conclusion for some, a sigh of relief for others.

The 2022 and 2023 Mixed Relay World Championships were the first auto-qualifiers. France, as host nation, was also guaranteed a team.

Deadline day rules state that the top six countries in the ranking will guarantee two men and two women for that particular National Olympic Committee, those places rolling down for those already qualified. As such, the following NINE teams will be on the start line on 5 August, to be joined by the TOP TWO from the Huatulco Mixed Relay Qualifier on 17 May, plus any remaining countries with 2 men and 2 women qualified through the individual ranking when that closes on 27 May.

ALREADY CONFIRMED:

TEAM FRANCE (HOSTS AND 2022 WORLD CHAMPIONS IN MONTREAL)
TEAM GREAT BRITAIN (SECOND TO FRANCE IN MONTREAL)
TEAM GERMANY (2023 WORLD CHAMPIONS)

CONFIRMED ON DEADLINE DAY:

TEAM NEW ZEALAND
TEAM AUSTRALIA
TEAM SWITZERLAND
TEAM USA
TEAM ITALY
TEAM PORTUGAL

The Teams that have already secured their spot will not be allowed to compete at the Huatulco Mixed Relay Olympic Qualifier. Behind them, there are still some big-name squads waiting in the wings. The likes of Spain, Canada, Belgium, Brazil are all likely to qualify at least the minimum two men and two women required to start on 5 August, while Teams South Africa, Japan, Austria, Mexico, Norway, Hungary, Netherlands and Denmark are among those for whom a podium in Huatulco could be the deciding factor.

Be sure to add 17 May, 7:15am local time (TBC) to your calendar as the chase to become only the second Olympic Triathlon Mixed Relay Champions heats up in Huatulco, full coverage on TriathlonLive.tv.

/FOTO, VIDEO/ První kolo krajského přeboru už některým týmům zvedlo bodové zisky za vítězství. Jiným prohra zkomplikovala pobyt v soutěži. Béčko Hamrů nemělo posily z A týmu, ale bod bralo (0:0). Lomnice na hřišti soupeře nastřílela Novému Boru sedm gólů (1:7). Plný bodový zisk si připsala také mužstva Železného Brodu, Sedmihorek a A týmu FC Pěnčín.

/FOTO, VIDEO/ Další domácí utkání divize C mělo být pro fanoušky A týmu Velkých Hamrů omluvou za první jarní zápas proti Kosmonosům (0:1). I když se Hamrovským příliš nepovedl první poločas, tři body pro své příznivce za výhru 3:2 vybojovali.

There was no doubt who the first ever World Cup race in Hong Kong belonged to on Sunday morning, as Great Britain’s Sian Rainsley managed to hold off the American duo of Katie Zaferes and Kirsten Kasper to secure her first ever win at this level.

It had been a testing 750m swim in Victoria Harbour as the athletes battled around the buoy, leaving a seven-deep group out front that managed to keep clear of the chasers for the full 5 laps of the 20km bike. Out onto the run, it was only at the bell that that front three finally shook off those around her, before Rainsley produced the decisive move after over 2km of the lead chopping and changing to take the tape ahead of the 2019 World Champion Zaferes and Kasper.

“I didn’t race much last year, I was quite injured so just being back on the start line was exciting,” said a beaming Rainsley. “I felt a bit more relaxed because I thought, let’s just blow off the cobwebs. I’ve been training a lot with my partner Tom, who just podiumed at a 70.3 in Australia this morning, so it’s a good day for our household! I only just got on the front group, so was happy to make that and on the last run lap, I just sprinted as hard as I could and it paid off today.”

USA and GB dominate the swim

It was the familiar sight of GB’s Olivia Mathias and Sophie Alden leading the swim at the turn and making early headway with Kasper and Zaferes in pursuit. Race number one Summer Rappaport (USA) put in a surge to come alongside the leaders, and that added momentum stretched the field over the closing stages towards the pontoon.

The choppy water and long ramp made the exit tough, and it was up the steps into transition that Rappaport seemed to lose ground, the 40-second run to the bike racks shuffling the pack and Emma Jeffcoat (AUS) powered to the front with Spain’s Cecilia Santamaria Surroca.

Magnificent seven pull clear

With Rappaport stranded off the back along with Canada’s Sophia Howell, that front seven developed into a tightly-knit group, while further back it was Swiss Julie Derron and Austria’s Therese Feuersinger trying to close their gap to a group headed by Ilaria Zane (ITA) and Erika Ackerlund (USA) who were 20 seconds off the front.

The 2018 World Champion Vicky Holland (GBR) couldn’t get on to Derron’s wheel and slipped back to a third group with the likes of Tilda Mansson (SWE) and Yuka Sato (JPN), the Swiss soon on the front of that main chase group over lap two and looking to reel in the leaders.

Bravo on the hunt

The lead hit 30 seconds and there it remained until the very final stages of the last lap, Mathias, Alden and Jeffcoat fastest through transition and away first but weren’t allowed time to enjoy the moment, and it wasn’t long before the seven came back together.

Seven became four, two Americans and two Brits, as Santamaria and Jeffcoat were first to be dropped, then Alden was unable to keep the pace as Zaferes, Kasper, Rainsley and Mathias pushed on.

Further back, Bravo and Derron were going through the gears, Holland also flying through the field as was Denmark’s Alberte Kjaer Pedersen, but Mathias was suddenly 10 seconds off the front three and the medals looked all but decided.

Final push pays off

Kirsten Kasper pushed on the short downhill but there was no shaking her rivals, nothing between them with 500m to go, but it was then that Rainsley was able to summon the finish she needed, kicking clear and carving out daylight as the blue carpet neared, 6 seconds the winning margin as she soaked up the cheers. Zaferes took silver, bouncing back after a tough Continental Championships in Miami, Kasper back on the podium with bronze, Bravo running her way to fourth, Zane in fifth.

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“The last race I did I didn’t finish and after a DNF it is always hard to put yourself in the right mental space for the next race,” admitted Zaferes. “I am really proud of myself for this race, it wasn’t an easy second, it was a hard-fought one. I am just really happy I strung together a decent swim, bike, run and transitions as well. The swim felt a little weird, but I just tried my best to stay relaxed, stay connected and take it piece by piece so that was a really big focus for this race, not to get too ahead of myself.”

“It’s great to be back on a podium, honestly I didn’t decide to do this race until two weeks ago so this is a great way to come to Hong Kong for the first time and get back on a podium,” said a satisfied Kasper. “This early in the season, I didn’t know where my run fitness was so that was a mental battle. I wanted to try and be strong and make sure I was on the podium, maybe even fight for the win. Those girls were strong together and got me today but I am just glad to be part of that podium. That was validation that what I did this winter paid off and I am grateful to my team for helping me figure out how to get back to the podium.”

Full results can be found here.

It was a day of firsts in Hong Kong. At the inaugural edition of the Hong Kong World Cup, Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP) not only became the first male victor of the event on Sunday morning. He also claimed his first World Cup win, matching the achievement of Sian Rainsley in the women’s race.

In the opening salvo of the swim, much of the field drifted to the right, beyond the line of the first buoy. Several highly ranked men, including Kenji Nener (JPN) and Márk Dévay (HUN), had stationed themselves on the farthest right side on the pontoon and had to check back.

In the end, it proved of little consequence as Dévay was the first man out of the water. The Hungarian athlete clocked 9:15 for the choppy 750m. Diego Moya was next out while Nener and Darr Smith (USA) emerged afterwards in unison.

Exploiting the early break

Over the first of five rapid bike laps, a front pack of thirteen men came together. A pack of equal size hovered some 15 seconds behind. While Nener, Dévay and more set the tempo at the front, Kevin McDowell (USA) took up the challenge of reeling them in from the chase on his return to international racing.

Such was the pace, the second pack on the road fractured. One of the pre-race favourites, Lasse Nygaard Priester (GER), slipped back from the chase group into the clutches of the main pack. Janus Staufenberg was among those to take an eye-catching turn at the head of the large third group. 

The leaders, though, were 20 seconds to the good at the front and continued to push.

Nener rode like a man possessed as he sought a maiden World Cup medal, although threats such as Antonio Serrat Seoane (ESP) and Gonzalez lurked in the lead bunch. 

By the final lap of the bike, the leaders succeeded in breaking the will of the main chase group and extended their margin.

The pressure rises

After sterling work on the bike, Panagiotis Bitados (GRE) stormed through T2 to take the lead. Robin Elg (HKG) was quick to follow and gave a rapturous home crowd something to cheer. Having been omnipresent at the front, it was little surprise to see Nener also on hand.

Luke Willian (AUS) had the best T2 of the next group on the road. He faced a tall order in closing down the lead trio of Serrat, Nener and Gonzalez. On the first of the two run laps, Nener tested his Spanish rivals’ legs but they were equal to his efforts.

Prior to the race, Nener had detailed in his Paths to Paris interview how he had hoped to fight for the podium in Hong Kong and test himself in the heat of the moment. In Hong Kong, he did just that and forged onwards. Yet his rivals did not relent. Serrat made a dash off the front but Gonzalez closed the gap.

Gonzalez strikes

Having won a medal at the opening World Cup of the season in Napier, Gonzalez was in terrific form. In the final stages, he sensed an opportunity and pounced.

His move was decisive and carried him to the gold medal by 5 seconds. After the race, he heaped praise on his teammate, Serrat, as well as his fellow front pack riders.
“We were always in the front with the guys and on the bike and we collaborated really well and kept the gap,” said Gonzalez.

In a tense final sprint, Serrat held off Nener to seal the silver medal. As with Gonzalez, Serrat was effusive towards his compatriot.

“I tried to go really fast but then Alberto caught me and I knew his sprint was really good and I didn’t have any more today. I am happy for Alberto (Gonzalez Garcia), he’s a good friend and team mate and I am really happy for him.”

For Nener, it was perhaps not the final result he may have desired. Nevertheless, he came away with a first World Cup medal and having executed the race exactly as hoped. At the finish he confirmed that he was “thrilled”.

“Of course it wasn’t the smartest race nor was it tactical, especially in this heat,” he added. “But if I am going to race against the best in the world, the level is up and I am not going to be leading so I have to put myself out there and race aggressively.

Behind the medallists, Willian ripped the second fastest run of the day to rise to 4th place. In addition, David Cantero del Campo (ESP) made it three Spanish men in the top-5. Cantero had exited T2 in the main pack however he unleashed a field-leading 5km – indeed, he was the only man under 15 minutes – to nab 5th place.

View the full results here.

V dalším kole ČFL skupiny B se jablonecký tým představil doma. Na umělé trávě v Mozartovce přivítal soupeře z Mostu. Doma chtělo mužstvo zazářit. Ale tři body za prohru 1:3 si odvezli hosté.

Dlouhá zimní pauza je pryč, do jarní části vstupují krajské fotbalové soutěže a také dva okresní přebory - na Liberecku a Českolipsku. Nabídka fotbalových zápasů je bohatá. Co si vyberete? 

/OD ZPRAVODAJE DENÍKU/ Bez pěti dní po roce se objevil záložník Antonín Barák v české reprezentaci. Pod novým trenérem Ivanem Haškem potvrdil rostoucí formu a krásnou střelou z přímého kopu trefil pět minut před koncem proti Norsku vítězství 2:1.

/OD ZPRAVODAJE DENÍKU/ Česká fotbalová reprezentace zvládla premiéru pod vedením nového realizačního týmu a v Norsku zvítězila 2:1. Výhra se ale nerodila lehce – Norové napadáním dostali svého soupeře pod tlak a jako první šli do vedení. Rozhodující gól obstaral až v 85. minutě z přímého kopu Antonín Barák. „Jenom jsem řval, ať trefí bránu. A on ji trefil,“ popisoval klíčový okamžik zápasu hlavní trenér Ivan Hašek.

/OD ZPRAVODAJE DENÍKU/ Fotbalisté české reprezentace první utkání pod trenérem Ivanem Haškem výsledkově zvládli. Ubránili největší hvězdu Norů Erlinga Haalanda a po trefách Davida Zimy a Antonína Baráka otočili souboj v Oslu i přes nepřesvědčivý výkon na 2:1. 

/GLOSA FRANTIŠKA BÍLKA/ Petr Rada, trenér Dukly Praha, klubu usilujícího o návrat do nejvyšší fotbalové ligy, vyfasoval od ligové disciplinární komise za rasistickou urážku, kterou během zápasu svého týmu s Zbrojovkou Brno počastoval trenéra hostů Tomáše Polácha, rekordní trest. Osm měsíců bez fotbalu natvrdo a pokutu 80 tisíc korun! V pořádku, nebo ne?

/OD ZPRAVODAJE DENÍKU/ Čeští reprezentanti v pátek odehrají první zápas pod novým koučem Ivanem Haškem. Proti Norsku je povede stejný kapitán Tomáš Souček. „Pod novým trenérem je to jiné,“ řekl hráč West Hamu United na předzápasové tiskové konferenci, kde mimo jiné také zavtipkoval směrem k nováčkům.

Během zimní přípravy mohly týmy doplnit a zkvalitnit svoje soupisky novými posilami. Málokterý by takovou možnost odmítl. Problém ale je, že není, kde brát.