An Olympic gold medallist as part of Germany’s Mixed Relay-winning team at Paris 2024, Lisa Tertsch heads back to the blue carpet on Saturday, wearing the women’s number one at the Valencia World Cup.

In some of the form of her life, not to mention a winner already here back in 2022, Tertsch currently stands fourth in the Championship Series rankings and will look to use this sprint-distance hit-out as a guide to a potential world title challenge with two Championship Series races left of the season.

It’s a 750m, one lap swim, a fast and flat 19.2km bike along the harbour with one dead turn on each of the four laps, and a two-lap 5km run to the gold on what looks like being a calm, hot afternoon in Valencia. Tune in on World Triathlon YouTube, Facebook and of course on TriathlonLive.tv from 5pm CEST on Saturday 14 September.

Tertsch back on familiar ground

It was a little over two years ago that Lisa Tertsch started to string together the kind of results that saw her head into Paris 2024 as one of the favourites to win an Olympic medal.

Winning the 2022 Valencia World Cup gold was preceded by a first Series medal in Hamburg and silver in the Pontevedra World Cup, and the belief lit within the 25-year-old back then has been clear to see ever since. Always a tough competitor, with a serious world title bid still to mount in WTCS Weihai and the Championship Finals, surely nothing less than a medal again on Saturday will satisfy her here.

Spain’s Anna Godoy Contreras will certainly have something to say down the closing stages with the crowds behind her, and this would be the perfect occasion to score a first World Cup podium of her long career. Teammate Noelia Juan made a big impact on the Cup circuit last year and will be hungry to improve on her 4th place from 12 months ago.

Consistency the key for Koch

Expect Annika Koch to be a key player over the closing stages as she, like compatriot Tertsch, has been able to extend her consistency into podium power in recent outings both at Cup and Series level. Norway’s European Games champion Solveig Lovseth will want to be close enough to the leader out of the water to be able to deploy her bike prowess and set up a big finish, while Zuzana Michalickova (SVK) is likely to be among the pace-setters in the water along with British challenger Olivia Mathias.

Silver medallist here in 2022 and winner in the Huatulco heat in 2023, Valencia is the kind of course that could suit the rapid Mexican run specialist Anahi Alvarez Corral once again. And speaking of emerging talent from the Americas, last year’s Junior World Championship silver medallist Jimena Renata De La Peña Schott makes her first start in the USA uniform after choosing to switch from representing Mexico.

Fourth year of Valencia fireworks

It was back in 2020 that Valencia made its debut on the World Cup circuit, and packing the kind of line up that was sure to make a splash. Lisa Tertsch took bronze, beaten by the formidable pair of Nicola Spirig and Beth Potter, before returning two years later to win gold.

Last year it was Gwen Jorgensen storming to gold over the Olympic distance version of the course, when she left two other German talents in her wake; Nina Eim and Marlene Gomez Goggel.

Silver in his last two World Cup outings - in Hong Kong back in February and last November in Brasilia - Spain’s Antonio Serrat Seoane takes up the number one cap this weekend in Valencia, ready to ignite the home fans hungry for some Spanish success. It was in Hong Kong that Spain’s Alberto Gonzalez pulled away late on to get the win, in Brasilia it was Miguel Hidalgo, and there can be no doubt that Serrat will be in no mood to relinquish a strong position a third time on this fast and furious course.

It’s a sprint-distance set up that awaits, fast and flat around the famous harbour. The 750m swim transitions to a rolling 19.2km bike with one dead turn and wrapping up with an out-and-back 5km run to the tape. Watch it all live and direct on World Triathlon YouTube, Facebook and, of course, on TriathlonLive.tv, from 7pm CEST on Saturday 14 September.

Spanish sweep on the cards?

Local favourites arrive in the form of Antonio Serrat, David Cantero del Campo and Karlovy Vary bronze medallist Kevin Tarek Vinuela Gonzalez, a trio with dynamite run speed on their day and, in Cantero, a man who has tasted gold here in 2023, albeit over the Olympic distance. Add in the skills of Sergio Baxter Cabrera, and a Spanish podium sweep is not out of the question.

Nicola Azzano, Italy’s freshly minted sprint champion of Europe, goes out in search of a second World Cup podium, while the winner of the season-opener in Napier, Callum McClusky, spearheads Australia’s medal hopes.

After narrowly missing out on an Olympic place, Kazakhstan’s Ayan Beisenbayev will have all the motivation he needs to make his mark on the race, USA’s Darr Smith will be one to watch driving the swim and bike, and Hungarian Gabor Faldum is chasing a first international podium since Tongyeong 2022.

Elsewhere, Canada’s silver medallist in Huatulco Mathis Beaulieu, Barbadian Matthew Wright and Japan’s Kyotaro Yoshikawa will all pose a major threat out of a full, 65-deep men’s field ready to go on the attack on Saturday evening.

Past Valencia victories

It was none other than Vincent Luis who became the first ever winner of a Valencia World Cup back in 2020, beating his sparring partner Alistair Brownlee to the gold, Jelle Geens with bronze on a star-studded debut for the course.

Manoel Messias took over the reigns in 2022, posting the fastest bike and run splits to win in a time of 0:50:14 and put the mighty Mario Mola into silver ahead of Matthew McElroy. Last year it was David Cantero with the win over the Olympic distance. As Brazil’s Messias proved two years ago, being a full 30 seconds back out of the water certainly doesn’t have to negate the chances of a medal.

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon have today announced the T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will take place in Dubai on 16-17 November and complete the 2024 T100 Triathlon World Tour calendar for its inaugural season.

“It has always been our ambition to crown our first T100 Triathlon World Champions in a spectacular race at an iconic location. Given the huge interest we’ve seen in Dubai from both the local and international triathlon community, we have decided that Dubai will give the first year of the T100 Triathlon World Tour the series finale it deserves,” explained PTO CEO Sam Renouf. “Dubai will be our largest event of the year, with over 10,000 participants set to compete across a range of distances and individual disciplines. Combining that scale with the stunning backdrop of Meydan racecourse and the Dubai skyline, means we’ll be finishing our inaugural year with a bang.”

“While we originally planned for an eight-race series in 2024 and had been exploring some exciting potential venues, a combination of lining up all the approvals and those locations not being quite ready to hold an event befitting the T100 Triathlon World Championship Final made the decision to move the final to Dubai an easy one in the end.”

The Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will be an integral part of the month-long 2024 Dubai Fitness Challenge, a city-wide initiative that challenges residents and tourists to commit to 30 minutes of daily activity for 30 days, to help kick-start long-term healthy habits. The Dubai Fitness Challenge has become a significant part of the city’s fitness culture over recent years, and a gateway to a more active, fitter future, inspiring thousands to take up new activities, improve their health, and connect with others through shared fitness goals. 

In addition to crowning the first T100 World Champions, which are officially recognised by the sports international governing body, World Triathlon, the Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will determine the final split of the record $7 million USD prize fund, with $250k being awarded at the race, and a further $2 million for the season-long competition.

“We are proud to have partnered with the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) to launch this new series, and to see the highest level of long distance racing in an officially sanctioned World Championship Tour, in the same way the World Triathlon Championship Series supports standard distance Triathlon,” commented Marisol Casado, World Triathlon President and IOC Member. “Dubai is set to be a fantastic conclusion to the series.”

“One of the key tenets of the T100 Triathlon World Tour was to evolve triathlon by bringing a season-long narrative to the sport,” added PTO Chairman Chris Kermode. “This is based on the simple premise behind all sports - fans want to see the best of the best competing, consistently, throughout the year. We are delighted that the T100 has delivered this for triathlon in our inaugural season and will be announcing 2025 calendar dates very soon.”

How the T100 Triathlon World Tour works

- Athletes score 35 points for first place to 1 pt for 20th place at each race
- The Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final has increased points to up the ante (55 pts down to 4 pts)
- Each athlete’s best three T100 race scores plus the Final will count towards the inaugural women’s and men’s T100 World Champions
- $250,000 USD prize fund at each T100, totalling $1,750,000 across the seven races (1st place – $25,000k; 2nd – $16,000; 3rd – $12,000 at each race)
- The series winners following the Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will be crowned T100 Triathlon World Champion and collect $210,000 USD from an additional total prize pool of $2,000,000
- Between the athlete contracts, T100 race prize fund and T100 Triathlon World Tour pool, the series provides more than $7,000,000 in athlete compensation, and is distributed in a way that not only rewards the winners, but also recognises the significant achievement of racing at this level
- In light of the series now being seven races, the obligated number of races for contracted T100 athletes has been reduced from five to four, plus the Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final.
- For athletes who competed at the Olympics - who were required to complete three T100 races and the Final, but who have not yet competed in a T100 race - they will be able to take their average score from two completed T100 races and count it as a ‘third’ race ahead of the new Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final on 16-17 November.

It was the day before temperatures in Karlovy Vary fell off a cliff and the men’s race at the World Cup had an end-of-summer feel to it as athletes threw every plan, tactic and idea at the wall. Haven’t made a breakaway this summer? Today was the day. Feel like making a Hail Mary attack on the bike? Go for it. Want to do a bunny hop over the steps on the laps around town? You do you. Through this somewhat madcap approach by much of the field, the men’s race bristled with life.

Amid the hectic action, it was John Reed (USA) that made the most of the glorious final day in the sun. A winner of a maiden World Cup medal earlier this season in Huatulco, Reed went even better on the cobbles and climbs of Karlovy Vary. In the closing stages he found himself up against a former WTCS race winner in the hunt for gold, but he did not wilt. Instead, Reed summoned a supreme final burst that carried him to gold and made his race one he is unlikely to ever forget.

Sometimes, the race actually starts before the starter’s horn sounds. When Márk Dévay (HUN) and Tayler Reid (NZL) sat down together for breakfast after Saturday’s swim familiarisation, one pertinent topic of conversation may have been their plans for today’s competition. Known for their fast swimming and aggressive style of racing, the pair were ideally suited to try to break the field up in the early stages. Considering that they utilised the strategy to great effect as part of the breakaway at the Chengdu World Cup earlier in the year, their rivals in Karlovy Vary must have seen it coming. Alas, for the most part, the field was powerless to do anything about it in the opening half hour of racing.

In contrast to the women’s race earlier in the day, the top seeds occupied the far right-hand side of the pontoon and only a select group were able to live with Dévay and Reid as they ripped into an early lead on the first of the two swim laps. Zalán Hóbor (HUN) scurried past Reid on the pontoon to make it two Hungarian men at the front heading into the final swim lap. Thereafter the lead trio remained unchanged beyond Reid shifting back past Hóbor and a pack of seven men came together out of T1. Among their number was Kevin Tarek Viñuela Gonzalez (ESP), the newly crowned World Aquathlon champion. Three stragglers, including Reed, endeavoured to latch on to the leaders. They proved successful and a pack of ten men made it through the first of the seven bike laps in the city centre with a lead of half a minute to play with.

Casper Stornes (NOR) was at the forefront of the nineteen-strong chase pack and had compatriot Sebastian Wernersen for company. Together, the Norwegian pair got through a significant amount of work as they pushed to reel in the leaders. Up front, Dévay attacked on the third lap. When Reid then bridged, the theories around their breakfast conspiracy thickened. Their fun was not to last, though, as the Norwegian-driven chase pack swept up the leading ten. That left twenty-three men at the front after individuals like Hóbor lost touch with the group.

The attacking was by no means done. A dig here and there came to nought but then Viñuela stepped up. With a late move, he held off the group for the entire final lap and even earned a 15 second advantage for his efforts, although it must be said he showed some momentary confusion as to what lap he was on. Once onto the run, there was no turning back for the Spanish athlete.

Stornes, Dévay and Wernersen led the charge after him and halved his lead at the first run check point. From there, the lead shifted as Stornes, Viñuela and Reed came through to complete the first lap together. However, they had not fully escaped the attentions of Reid, Wernersen and Dévay, himself a medallist in Karlovy Vary last year. Slowly but surely, Reed and Stornes pulled away over the second lap and, by the midpoint of the run, turned the finale into a two-horse race despite the defiant efforts of Viñuela. Two remaining laps became one and still the front pair were inseparable. Having endured a DNF in Karlovy Vary last year, Stornes seemed set for a redemptive victory and had the advantage of experience. Nevertheless, Reed has been in some of the form of his life lately and would not be denied.

A late surge on the final lap cut his rival loose and handed him a fantastic victory. An exhausted Stornes then crossed to seal a silver medal in what is proving a remarkable season in which he has put the injury trouble of the past couple of years firmly behind him. Viñuela then rounded out the podium for a maiden World Cup medal of his own after a bold and daring performance.

What they had to say

“This course is iconic,” said Reed. “Honestly, probably the hardest race I’ve ever done in my life. From the get-go, Márk, I knew he was going to drill the swim and that’s exactly what he did. And the bike: you can’t go easy. I had to push the first kilometres to catch up to the leaders and then Casper and I were going for it.” Despite his win, he noted, “I’ve still got to get better technically, I think. Tayler had me a couple of times on the long descent into the cobble section and I was a little hesitant going off the cobbles and I would fall back.” On the note of the finishing burst that carried him to gold, he said, “I’ve been out-kicked a lot, so I was pretty nervous. I know Casper is an incredible athlete and I knew he was going to have a kick but I was able to get some extra momentum and I tried to hold on during the downhill and it came good.”

“I’m so tired now,” was the first thing Stornes had to say. “I really went for it on the bike. I felt at some point that I was doing most of the work but I got some help from Sebastian and some other guys and we made up (the ground). The last three laps were just about saving energy and I didn’t feel good on the run so I just needed to stay on the back of Reed. So I’m happy to get 2nd.”

Finally, Viñuela said, “It’s the race of my life! Three weeks ago I won the Aquathlon World Championship and now in Karlovy Vary my first podium in a World Cup. It’s a dream. Today is my day.”

It is said that in the 14th century Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, led an expedition into the forests around what is now Karlovy Vary where they discovered by accident the hot springs for which the town is now famous. As the story goes, the water from the spring healed the King’s injured leg and it is from there the legend of the water’s restorative qualities began. Fast forward to the 2024 Karlovy Vary World Cup and it was Maya Kingma (NED) that enjoyed a similar story of rejuvenation.

After having surgery at the beginning of the year, her season has been a tale of building back to her best. A 7th place at the Paris Olympics gave a clear indicator of her form but Kingma went even better in Karlovy Vary. Perhaps there really was something in the water - as Charles IV first discovered - for Kingma showed her surgery and all prior complications are completely behind her with a win that will serve as a potent reminder to the triathlon world that the former WTCS race winner is back in business.

The top seeded women all opted for the left side of the pontoon as they faced Lake Rolava. Bianca Seregni (ITA) and Kingma led a pack of five that broke clear in the opening lap of the 1500m swim. Their advantage only grew over the second lap. Márta Kropkó (HUN), Emma Jeffcoat (AUS) and Sophia Howell (CAN) made up the rest of the lead quintet and Kropkó then performed a magic trick of a change in the first transition as to blink would have been to miss it. After a cagey start to the bike, Kingma and Kropkó broke away during the early stages of the bike, putting 30 seconds into their fellow swim leaders and the rest of the field firmly on the ropes. Before long, their lead exceeded a minute.

Further back, the main pack, which contained the likes of Anabel Knoll (GER), Gina Sereno (USA) and Verena Steinhauser (ITA) managed to organise themselves and swept up the remaining three swim leaders. By the end of the second lap around town, however, they stood over 90 seconds in arrears of the lead duo. It was thus two against twelve and by the midpoint of the bike the only conclusion to take was that the two were winning.

Petra Kurikova (CZE) gave the home crowds a boost, one that they returned with their support, as she hit the front of the chase pack. The leaders, though, continued to extend their gap. When the chasers eventually arrived into T2, Kingma and Kropkó were 3 minutes up the road. As a result, two races unfolded on the run: the battle for gold and the fight for bronze.

In terms of the former, Kingma had been in this position before whereas Kropkó was deep into what was already by far the best performance of her fledgling career. That greater experience of the Dutch athlete told as she moved serenely through T2 and the first part of the run. Her Hungarian rival was in no mood to throw in the towel but Kingma’s class quickly told as she pulled away. Further back, in the latter race, Sereno, Seregni and Kurikova were the front runners for 3rd place while Maria Tomé (POR) remained in contention. At the start of the second of the four run laps, Kurikova edged into a slight lead. Despite resistance from Sereno, Kurikova then extracted further seconds in her quest for bronze throughout the 10km run.

Through her determination, Kurikova even slowly wrenched the race for silver open as she pulled within half a minute of Kropkó with a lap to go. Kropkó battled heroically but after all of her work could not stave off the Czech athlete. There was further heartbreak for the Hungarian as Sereno flew past her in the final kilometre to snatch away the bronze medal behind Kurikova. Meanwhile, Kingma was simply unstoppable. She cruised to the win and was able to enjoy her sun-lit moment on the blue carpet. Such was her influence over the race, it is fair to say that on the morning after the Karlovy Vary Festival of Light concluded one triathlete shone brighter than all others.

What they had to say

Maya Kingma: “It was absolutely terrific. I think we already had a good swim with Seregni of course, and we had a group of five. On the way to get to the city there’s also some hills and I felt like if we’re not going to ride then I’m not going to pull the ones that don’t want to ride so I attacked on the first hill on the water and only Márta really came with me. She was amazing, like how we worked together and how we rode. I didn’t expect it to happen like that but it was great!”

Petra Kurikova: “Finally in Karlovy Vary so I’m very happy with that! It’s after the Olympics so maybe I’m feeling a little bit tired physically and mentally so I am so happy to take a silver medal here in Karlovy Vary.”

Gina Sereno: “That was so fun! That was such a cool course. The hill is insane and you really feel it going up five, six, seven times. I couldn’t see them (Kingma and Kropkó on the bike), they were so far away! They rode so hard and so they were completely out of the picture, so finding the strength to still stay in the race was really hard, but there were so many people around in the pack it was really motivational.”

Frenchman Émile Blondel-Hermant and Germany’s Merle Brunée were crowned the long-distance duathlon world champions this Sunday at the Powerman Zofingen 2024 with a powerful performance that saw them crossing the finish line clearly ahead the rest of the field. In the men’s race, Switzerland’s Jens-Michael Gossauer secured the bronze medal behind Belgium’s Seppe Odeyn, who made it back onto the podium for the first time since his 2021 victory in
Zofingen. In the women’s race, Germany celebrated a quadruple victory with Brunée on top of the podium, Maja Betz in second, Nelly Rassmann in third and Lisa Strothmann in fourth place.

Men’s race

Although he finished the Powerman Zofingen in under six hours, the new long-distance world champion Émile Blondel-Hermant could hardly see the ordeal in the finish area. “It was a great race. I always wanted to win here and today was that day”, said the Frenchman in the finish area. Last year, the 30-year-old had to settle for the silver medal and he wasn’t necessarily expecting to win this year either. “My preparation wasn’t ideal because I mainly trained for the sprint format. But I felt very good shape today”, he explained after crossing the finish line.

The men’s race was once again a thrilling race from the horn.  On the first 10-kilometre run, a trio of men managed to pull away slightly. Last year’s runner-up Émile Blondel-Hermant, last year’s third-placed Fabian Holbach from
Germany and the Swiss hopeful Jens-Michael Gossauer came into the transition zone together. A first setback awaited Holbach there. But the drama unfolded in transition, where the German received a penalty for a helmet violation, one minute that he had to serve and that would cost him to lose contact with the leaders.

However, he was later able to catch up with Blondel-Hermant and Gossauer on the bike. Meanqhile, Michiel Stockman (BEL) initially showed great form on the bike, turning the leading trio into a quartet and temporarily taking the lead. At the start of the third bike lap, more penalties, this time to Stockman and Holbach, meant that Blondel-Hermant and Gossauer took the lead. The Frenchman and the Swiss took it in turns to lead the race on the bike, with in the last kilometers Blondel-Hermant starting the final running section with a narrow lead.

There, the 30-year-old extended his lead over the Swiss and crossed the finish line with the second-fastest winning time in the history of the Powerman. Jens-Michael Gossauer, on the other hand, had to let the Belgian Seppe Odeyn pass him towards the end and had to settle for the bronze medal. For Odeyn, it was a successful return to the podium in Zofingen after his 2021 world championship title.

Women’s race

Local hero Melanie Maurer (SUI) fired up the turbo right from the start at her Powerman race. The Wikon native pulled away on the first running lap and opened up a one-minute lead over the rest of the field, and alone she made it to the first transition.

After the second run lap and the change to the bike, Maurer’s lead over her toughest rival and last year’s winner Merle Brunée had grown to almost two minutes. As the race progressed, however, Brunée was gradually able to close the gap on the bike until the key scene in this year’s women’s race occurred on the third and final bike lap on the climb to Mühlethal. Brunée overtook Maurer and pulled away. Shortly afterwards, the Swiss rider even had to take her foot off the pedals and stop. A short time later, the 36-year-old abandoned the race due to stomach problems.

For Merle Brunée, the path to her third long-distance world title after 2023 and 2021 was clear. The 30-year-old tackled the final run course with a 17-minute lead over her compatriot Maja Betz and confidently secured victory. “I wanted to run my race right from the start. If I had kept up with Melanie Maurer’s high initial pace, I probably wouldn’t have made it to the finish”, said the beaming winner, explaining her race strategy. “Each of my four performances in Zofingen was different. It’s another indescribable victory,” continued the successful German.

After Brunnée, three more German duathletes -Maja Betz, Nelly Rassmann and Lisa Strothmann - finished one after the other, meaning that Germany celebrated a phenomenal quadruple triumph.

Swiss victories over the short distance
Iwan Hasler from Aargau took victory in the short distance race (10 km run / 50 km bike / 5 km run). Among other things, he benefited from the fact that the initial leader and Swiss duathlete of the year 2023, Andrea Alagona, took a wrong turn on the Heitern and thus caught a longer final stretch. Only shortly after Hasler, Joel Graber from Bern and Stefan Ging from Zofingen crossed the finish line in second and third place.

Anna Zehnder from Seeland triumphed in the women’s short distance. She had already won the Powersprint Performance on Saturday and had a perfect Powerman weekend. Jannine Köppel from the Bernese Oberland finished in second place, one minute behind. Third on the podium was Martina Süess from Zug.

Swiss Triathlon, in collaboration with World Triathlon and Powerman, is proud to announce the extension of the prestigious World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Championships for the next two years. The event will continue to be hosted in the historic city of Zofingen, Switzerland, on September 7, 2025, and September 6, 2026.

Zofingen, the birthplace of the Long Distance Duathlon World Championships, hosted this iconic event first in 1989 and as World Championships in 1997. Since then, it has become a symbol of endurance and excellence in the world of duathlon. The decision to extend the championship through 2026 underscores the ongoing commitment of World Triathlon, Powerman, and Swiss Triathlon to elevate the sport to new heights.

Stefan Ruf, President of Powerman Switzerland, the exclusive license holder of Powerman Long Distance Duathlon events worldwide, commented: "Together we can open a new chapter in the history of Long Distance Duathlon. Our goal is to increase the number of participating nations over the next two years."

Pascal Salamin, President of Swiss Triathlon, added: "We are very happy to see the extension of the World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen. Switzerland has long been recognized as the capital of long-distance duathlon, with a deep-rooted culture and passion for the sport. This event perfectly matches our vision and efforts to promote endurance sports in our country. We are committed to fostering the growth
of duathlon, and this partnership allows us to showcase Switzerland's dedication to the sport on a global stage."

Further details on the courses and distances for the upcoming championships will be released soon. The extension of this championship showcases the strong partnership between World Triathlon and Powerman, as well as the dedication of Zofingen to continue hosting this world-class event.

Marisol Casado, President of World Triathlon, said: "We are thrilled to renew our longstanding partnership with Powerman to host the Long Distance Duathlon World Championships in Zofingen. This event, which has been a classic stop on our calendar for 27 years, embodies the spirit and tradition of our sport. Zofingen's rich history and dedication to excellence in duathlon, with its stunning landscapes and their welcoming spirit, makes it a perfect destination for our events, and we are proud to continue with our relationship and taking it one step forward".

Swiss Triathlon and World Triathlon are also excited to announce this extension during the upcoming event which will be hosted this weekend in Zofingen!

September has arrived and like the start of the new school year the men’s race at this weekend’s Karlovy Vary will have a new-look feel to it. Only 2 of the 53 men due to start (Matthew Wright of Barbados and Alois Knabl of Austria) raced at the Paris Olympics and the field contains plenty of athletes champing at the bit to make a name for themselves across this new Olympic cycle. Below, you can find out some of the names that could impress as well as what the previous iterations of the standard distance race have to tell us, and you can watch all the action live at 15:00 (CEST) on Sunday on TriathlonLive.

The established names

Márk Dévay (HUN) is back at the scene of his first World Cup medal from a year ago. Known for being one of the best swimmers in the men’s field, Dévay will look to capitalise on a hilly course that tends to favour breakaways. A key ally on that front could be Tayler Reid (NZL). The New Zealander wears number 1 and has already made it onto a World Cup podium this season in Chengdu. More than most, the 2018 World U23 champion has all the skills required to go with Dévay on a long-range attack.

Another established name to consider is Casper Stornes (NOR). The winner of WTCS Bermuda in 2018 has enjoyed something of a resurgence this season after a few fallow years. This return to form recently took him to 5th place at WTCS Hamburg, his best result since his stunning Bermuda success. Stornes might not be quite as quick in the water as Dévay and Reid, but one thing he does not lack is power on the bike. If he is unleashed on the rolling Karlovy Vary course, he could wreak havoc.

One factor that unites this trio is that each narrowly missed out on Olympic selection this summer and have spent much of the summer waiting for the opportunity to prove they have plenty still to offer. In Karlovy Vary, they will have their chance.

The middle men

The next segment of athletes in Karlovy Vary contains a group that have enjoyed nascent success in their careers but still generally have rising profiles. John Reed (USA) is one such athlete. He claimed maiden World Cup medal in Huatulco earlier this year and has progressed rapidly over the past 12 months. On his day, he might even match compatriot Morgan Pearson’s superlative win in Karlovy Vary from a year ago.

The French pair of Paul Georgenthum and Baptiste Passemard will also look to claim some hardware. The former won silver at WTCS Hamburg in 2021 but has yet to kick on at the world level, largely due to his young age. The latter medalled at last year’s World U23 Championships and is another to have shown plenty of promise. Meanwhile, Kevin Tarek Viñuela Gonzalez (ESP) was recently crowned the World Aquathlon champion in Townsville and will be looking to prove himself further in the triathlon sphere.

The young guns

Finally, there are the youngsters. Zalán Hóbor (HUN) and Gyula Kovács (HUN) are fresh out of the junior ranks and join Dévay. Similarly, Sullivan Middaugh (USA) joins Reed. Another newcomer from the junior level, Middaugh has enjoyed a great season in which he has claimed two Americas Cup wins plus a recent silver medal in his last outing. Then there is Gjalt Panjer (NED) who has come on leaps and bounds. Karlovy Vary will not be the easiest of races to tackle for the less experienced contenders, but several have the talent to spring a surprise.

What the numbers say

Although the emphasis in Karlovy Vary is usually on the bike, it may be the swim that actually proves key. In four of the six World Cups since 2018, the men’s winner has been among the top six swimmers in Karlovy Vary. The exceptions came in 2021 and 2019. This broadly follows the pattern of the women’s event.

Unlike the women’s racing, close finishes have been the trend over the past half dozen years. Only 2021 and Pearson’s blowout victory last year saw winning margins of over 20 seconds. The lesson here, then, is that while the race can be expected to break up in the swim and on the bike, it may be wise to hold a little something in reserve for the finish as a couple of athletes will likely be in the hunt for gold.

Stay up to date with all the action from Sunday’s racing across World Triathlon channels and catch the racing live on TriathlonLive.

The Paris Olympic cycle has come to an end and already the new cycle is upon us. The Los Angeles Games in 2028 may feel far removed right now but they will creep up sooner than most think and, as the first step on this road, the first World Cup races of the new quadrennial will take place this weekend. However, if the athletes thought they would be in for a gentle return, particularly those that competed in Paris, they may be in for a shock. After all, Karlovy Vary is famed for being one of the toughest courses on the World Cup circuit with a 1500m lake swim, a brutal 40km bike and then a testing 10km run to finish. Read on to find out some of the key names to watch in the women’s race and what the races of the past few years can tell us, and watch the race live on Sunday at 10:00 (CEST) on TriathlonLive.

Paris Olympians

Several 2024 Olympians will have their first taste of world level action since the big day in Paris. From this group, Bianca Seregni (ITA) wears number 1 in Karlovy Vary. Seregni was a triple World Cup winner in 2023, scored her first ever World Cup podium here with bronze in 2021, took silver in ‘22, and will look to add another victory to her collection this weekend. She will be joined by her fellow Italian Olympian, Verena Steinhauser.

WTCS race winner Maya Kingma (NED) will be another to watch. With her speed in the water and strength on the bike, the course should suit her perfectly. With the likes of Seregni in the field too, Kingma will also have the assistance at the front of the swim to break up the field. In addition, World Cup winner Petra Kurikova (CZE) will look to impress on home soil while Maria Tomé (POR) and Emy Legault (CAN) will likewise push to build upon their Paris showings with high finishes.

With medals ranging through the WTCS, World Cup and World U23 Championship levels, this group of Olympians has no shortage of credentials. The challenge facing them, though, may be psychological as they rouse themselves for their first race since the biggest event of the past Olympic cycle.

A point to prove

Conversely, there are several women that will have a point to prove after missing out on selection for Paris. Anabel Knoll (GER), a Tokyo Olympian, will look to showcase her abilities. Having finished in the top-8 at multiple WTCS races, she certainly has the ability to claim a high finish, although a recent COVID positive may push her out of the event.

World Cup medallists Romana Gajdošová (SVK) and Tereza Zimovjanova (CZE) were also close to making it to Paris. Both claimed maiden World Cup medals last season and so they could conceivably hit their best form again. Moreover, as with Kurikova, Zimovjanova will have the added boost of home support. Gina Sereno (USA) is another World Cup medallist not to be ignored and she finished 5th earlier in the summer in Huatulco. As a result, there will be numerous dangers to the Paris Olympians in the women’s race.

What the numbers say

Karlovy Vary has been a fixture on the World Cup circuit in recent times. Indeed, it was one of the few races to take place in the COVID-hit 2020 season. As such, there is plenty of recent data to delve into. One thing to note is the significance of the swim. In four of the six editions since 2018, the women’s winner has been among the top ten out of the water. Often, the women’s race has broken up on the bike and a fast swim has therefore put the winner either in the breakaway or close enough to bridge to it. Of course, a slightly slower swim will not necessarily end an athlete’s hopes, but in recent Karlovy Vary races it has tended to be a helpful feature of the winner’s performance.

Furthermore, recent races in Karlovy Vary have not been that close on the women’s side. Only two of the past half dozen races have been won by less than 20 seconds, of which one was Gwen Jorgensen’s victory from a slimmed-down lead pack last year. This is indicative that damage is generally done early in Karlovy Vary, for both the run and the race as a whole.

Finally, on the note of Jorgensen’s 2023 win, her overall time of 2:03:51 was the fastest by any woman from recent times. Considering her predecessors at the top of the Karlovy Vary podium were Leonie Periault, Julie Derron and Flora Duffy, it will be no mean feat for this year’s winner to get closer to the 2 hour mark.

Track all the action in Karlovy Vary on World Triathlon channels and catch the racing live this Sunday on TriathlonLive.

Paris set the stage and the world’s best para triathletes certainly put on a show. Across eleven superb races, there were a litany of stories to track and highlight, from redemption arcs to shock victories and to simply glorious performances in the French capital. In this article, we will take on the challenge of narrowing down to just five of the main talking points from the action after a day of para triathlon racing that will live long in the memory.

Home heroes

A party is never really a party if the host isn’t having a good time. Luckily, the French team were buoyed by some superlative performances in the para triathlon events as Alexis Hanquinquant took gold in the PTS4 event and Jules Ribstein powered to the win in the PTS2 category.

Ribstein was a vision of calm across his race. He did not have the fastest split in any of the swim, bike or run but rather was the second quickest in the first two disciplines and then the third quickest over the 5km run. Such consistency proved to be the bedrock upon which he built his success. The 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 world champion never really looked like being beaten on his Paralympic debut and he brought the home crowd to their feet.

As for Hanquinquant, what is there left to say? Over the years, all kinds of adjectives have been hurled around to describe the now two-time Paralympic champion and Paris was a true coronation of a remarkable athlete. He was the fastest male PTS5 swimmer but it was on the bike that he did the most damage, putting 77 seconds into his closest rival. From there, it was plain sailing as Hanquinquant cruised to yet another triumph. As with Ribstein, he was one of France’s bankers for Paralympic gold this year and he did not disappoint.

Stars and stripes

While the home team had plenty to celebrate, they did not actually come away with the most gold medals across the para triathlon events. That honour went to the American team as they gobbled up a hat-trick of golds. Hailey Danz had a day she will never forget in the women’s PTS2 race as she turned the tables on the defending Paralympic champion (and her compatriot) Allysa Seely. Danz really dropped the hammer on the bike to separate herself from the field.

Speaking of the hammer (and forgive me for this pun), Chris Hammer unleashed the best performance of his career to strike gold in the men’s PTS5 class. Prior to Paris, Hammer had enjoyed success at the top level with a solitary world title coming in 2021. With luminaries like Martin Schulz (GER), the defending Paralympic champion, and Stefan Daniel (CAN), the 2022 world champion, to contend with, though, Hammer was up against a stacked field. After losing time in the swim, a field-leading bike split brought him back into contention. Then, a monstrous 15:59 5km run split carried him to the gold. 

Grace Norman was the third and final American gold medallist in the para triathlon events as the 2016 Paralympic champion made amends for her defeat in Tokyo three years ago. Of her PTS5 silver in Tokyo, Norman said, “I did not like giving that up in Tokyo - I was fired up for these Games.” She certainly raced as if she had a point to prove. She spent much of the day in a close battle with British rivals Claire Cashmore and Lauren Steadman, the latter of whom beat her in Tokyo, but once the run arrived Norman’s resolve proved indestructible. Her victory thus provided the icing on the cake for a generally excellent American showing.

Redemption time

Norman was not the only athlete to enjoy a redemption of sorts from Tokyo. Lauren Parker (AUS) converted her Tokyo silver into Paris gold with a storming performance in the women’s PTWC class. Parker has been close to unstoppable in the years since Tokyo. Indeed, Tokyo was the last time she lost an individual race internationally and she arrived in Paris as the top ranked para triathlete in the world. Nevertheless, she still had to rise to the moment yesterday. Nothing, though, was going to hold her back this time from claiming Paralympic gold.

Meanwhile, Dave Ellis (GBR) has had a couple of bruising Paralympic experiences previously. As a para swimmer, he had a previous best finish of 6th at the Games before switching to para triathlon. In Tokyo, he then did not finish the men’s PTVI race. As a mark of Ellis’ dominance, since September 2019 he has failed to win only two international races. The first came from his DNF in Tokyo and the second was when he “only” managed a silver medal at the 2023 European Championships. Like Parker, then, he has been a supreme force in para triathlon but needed this Paralympic title to crown his achievements. After winning yesterday by 84 seconds, it is fair to say he did just that.

Age is but a number

A Paralympic gold medal is always an incredible achievement. Sometimes, though, there can be elements beyond the medal that are just as interesting. Such was the case in the men’s PTS3 race as Daniel Molina (ESP) compiled a brilliant display to claim the gold medal. Molina was born in 1974 and will be turning 50 this month. As a result, he was the oldest among the para triathlon gold medallists.

Molina has enjoyed a long and illustrious sporting career. Two decades ago, at the 2004 Paralympic Games, he competed as a para swimmer, although it was in Paris that he claimed his first Games medal. In the time since, he has won world titles in para triathlon in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. After so long at the top, there are no signs of Molina slowing down.

Don’t sleep on the next generation

At the other end of the age scale, Megan Richter (GBR) was the youngest gold medallist courtesy of her win in the women’s PTS4 class. Born in 2000, Richter is at the vanguard of a new generation of para triathletes that made a splash in Paris.

Francesca Tarantello (ITA) nabbed the silver in the women’s PTVI race. Tarantello was born in 2002 and also won the world title last year. In the men’s PTVI race, Owen Cravens (USA) managed to come away with 4th place. Being born in 2003, he was the youngest athlete in the race.

Henry Urand (GBR) likewise earned a 4th place finish on his Games debut in para triathlon in the PTS3 class. He was born in 2002 and is only just getting started at the top level. Over in the PTS5 category, Bence Mocsari (HUN) and Jack Howell (AUS) earned 5th and 7th, respectively, having been born in 2000 and 2004. Any one of this cohort could go on to join Richter as a Paralympic champion at the next Games in Los Angeles and their positive starts to their careers have not gone unnoticed.