Canada’s Mislawchuk stakes claim for second Olympic appearance with win at Huatulco WTCS Mexico

Canadian Tyler Mislawchuk notched up the third World Cup win of his career by victoriously defending his World Triathlon Cup title from two years ago in Huatulco, Mexico by winning the final men’s race of the Olympic qualification period on Sunday morning in a time of 00:53.09. 

Mislawchuk is a seasoned elite triathlete and an Olympian having competed in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Game and finishing in a commendable 15th place. It was in that year that the Canadian really kick started his international career scoring his first top 10 spot in the WTCS Abu Dhabi race. 2019 was also another breakthrough season for the Canadian taking his first ever World Triathlon Series podium by winning the bronze on his home-turf in Montreal and 2 x World Cup Golds before going on to become the first Canadian triathlete ever to win the Olympic Test event in Tokyo. 

Now in the year of the Olympics it is clear the Canadian is ready to continue his winning ways.In the challenging humid and hot heat of Santa Cruz Bay the Canadian exited the water of the 750m swim just four seconds off the lead out swimmer with only 10 seconds separating the top 20 athletes. Heading out of T1 a large group formed to make the lead pack for the 20k bike leg and with his Canadian team-mates Matt Sharpe, Charles Paquet, John Rasmussen, and Jérémy Briand also in the front pack they were able to dictate the pace. 

As they headed toward T2 Mislawchuk positioned himself to the front of the pack to set himself up to run from the front. Exiting T2 as the lead runner Mislawchuk wasted no time setting the pace and after 1st lap of two found himself still ahead of his chasing rivals. Looking behind and seeing no-one in sight he put his foot right down and pulled further away in lap two of the 5k run with the rest fighting it out for the lower placings.  

Mislawchuk winning in 00:53;09 was joined on the World Cup podium by two athletes from Brazil. Manoell Messias finished 12 seconds back in second at 53:21 while Miguel Hidalgo was third with a time of 53:22. 

The Canadian triathlete will make his mark in Tokyo in just a few months time and by todays showing Mislawchuk seems to enjoy racing in hot and humid condition which will bode well for him in Tokyo where the heat will be the principal enemy for many of the athletes.

Full results HERE