PREVIEW: 2021 World Triathlon Cup Arzachena – Welcome to Sardinia
One of the most important triathlon events in the world makes a stop in Sardinia again. The 2021 World Triathlon Cup Arzachena is returning to beautiful Sardinia this week-end for the sixth year in a row and to the stunning Cannigione, in the Arzachena municipality, where this impressive course made its debut last year.
The backdrop of the Sprint-Distance race will be the splendid scenery of Cannigione in the territory of Arzachena, which on Saturday 29 May 2021, will host a stage of the Triathlon World Cup, which in two distinct races, the female and the male, will see the best specialists of this spectacular at the starting line. The day after the World Cup, on the 30th of May, the Age Group, will take the stage for the Costa Smeralda Triathlon, an Olympic distance race.
The stunning coastal sprint-distance course will begin with a 750m swim off the idyllic beaches of the main town before the bike course heads north on a long and demanding climb out into the surrounding hills and back down into the town streets and the race concludes with two laps of a 2.5km section along the Cannigione seafront with an eye always turned to the crystalline sea of the Costa Smeralda.
With the start lists published, this is set to be another hotly contested battle in the early summer sunshine as the world’s best triathletes compete for podium places and Olympic qualification points.
After dominating in the World Triathlon Cup Lisbon, Portugal and the WTCS Yokohama Japan, the week before Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt showed that he is the man in form. His fellow countryman Gustav Iden, will be looking to make his mark after his recent solid performances, 9th in Yokohama and 8th in Lisbon. Spaniard, Mario Mola will be looking for a solid performance to fulfil his aspiration to medal at the Olympics.
Whilst last year’s winner, World Champion Vincent Luis will not be racing the event will see return of the Brownlee brothers’ duo with both Alistar and Jonny racing. Alistar will be looking to make podium in his claim for the last spot up for grabs in the Mens GB Olympics Squad. Expect them both to force the pace on the bike leg to gain first mover advantage on the run. Tom Bishop and Grant Sheldon make up the British quartet
In the women’s race, the field is not so strong with last year’s winner Flora Duffy having withdrawn, no Nicola Sprig winner in Lisbon, no British women contingent, so no place for Beth Potter to be able to improve upon her second place in last year’s event.
So, who will dazzle in this year’s women’s race? This will be a very open race with all eyes on Italy’s home-grown Verena Steinhauser who took the podium in 3rd place in the 2020 Arzachena World Cup. She is no stranger to the podium having taken 3rd place at the 2019 Weihai ITU Triathlon World Cup and 3rd place at the 2018 Lausanne ITU Triathlon World Cup.
This may be a race for Mexico’s Lizeth Rueda Santos to show her potential after a stellar performance at the Lisbon World Cup running in at 13th place. As a former long-distance swimmer, having competed as an Olympian in the 10k Open Water swim at 2012 London Games, this will hold her in good stead to mix with the front pack.
You can watch the racing live via TRIATHLONLIVE.TV
Women – 10:30 CEST/LOCAL – 9:30AM UK TIME
Men – 15:30 CEST/LOCAL – 2:30PM UK TIME
