RACE PREVIEW: 2020 ITU World Triathlon Championships
The one and only WTS event is set to take place this weekend in Hamburg and plays host to the crowning of the men’s and women’s world triathlon champions for this year.
After numerous race cancellations over the past 6 months the majority of the worlds best athletes will take to the start line in what will be a first ever World Championships to take place over a sprint distance rather than the traditional Olympic distance. The original course has also been changed to downtown Hamburg to create and ensure safe distancing measures to protect all those involved in the event as best as possible.
Men’s Race:
Saturday, 4pm CEST / 3pm UK-time
The men’s side of WTS racing has changed drastically over the past couple of years. There was once a time where we would see the same regular athletes putting themselves on the podium, however, new names have come through and the winners of each race have become very hard to predict. Last year the series was wide open and it looks set to be the same again this year.
The reigning world champion Frenchman Vincent Luis will take to the start line wearing number one. Luis has produced many good results on this course before and took second in the 2019 event. The shorter format should suit Luis and although maybe not the standout performer in a single discipline with the three combined Luis is always at the front of the race fighting for the win.
Spanish legend Javier Gomez has decided not to enter this years race. He made his views clear on a recent Instagram post, which also highlighted he knows his strengths lie in the Olympic distance and the change in that may have been the deciding factor to his decision not to race. However, his other two Spanish compatriots multiple world triathlon champion Mario Mola and Olympian Fernando Alarza will fight for the win.
GB’s Jonathan Brownlee and Alex Yee are strong contenders. Brownlee has the experience and results behind him to produce a race that no one can match if he puts it all together. Up and coming quick runner Yee put his name out there last year and has every athlete scared if he is anywhere near them on the run. The shorter distance no doubt suits him and if he can hold on during the swim leg he may just take the tape by the end.
Host nation Germany have two men on the start line. Jonas Schomberg, an athlete who has already qualified for next years Tokyo Olympics and recent Super League Arena Games winner Justas Nieschlag. A german triathlete has not been World Champion since Daniel Unger in 2007, could these unusual circumstances and a home race give them a surprise win?
Others too look out for are of course the Norwegian Trio of Kristan Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden and Casper Stornes who all had success across the 2019 season.
Unfortunately reigning Hamburg winner Jacob Birtwistle is not able to return to defend his win on this course as no Australians have been entered.
View the full start list here
Women’s Race:
Saturday, 6pm CEST / 5pm UK-time
Reigning World Champion American Katie Zaferes was dominant over most of the 2019 season. She has already stated her surprise of the actual event suddenly changing to the overall world title but has said that she will still go out there to defend her title. The strengths for the women’s American squad is maintained as has been the regular theme over the past 5-6 years as she is joined by her compatriots Taylor Spivey and Summer Rappaport. Each of these athletes have produced top performances over the past year and Rappaport became the first American to get the ticket to Tokyo after meeting the criteria at the test event. Could we see an American sweep of the podium?
Great Britain have a solid line up as always as Georgia Taylor-Brown, Jessica Learmonth and Vicky Holland get ready to race. Learmonth has shown she has some sort of fitness with her recent dominant display at the Super League Arena Games where she took the maximum points from the event. Taylor-Brown is a very strong runner and the shorter distance will play to her strengths. She could surely take confidence from last years results and pull something out of the bag.
Flora Duffy had a tough year with injury but came back with a bang by taking the win at the WTS Tokyo Test event towards the end of the 2019 season. That was a bikers course. The shorter distance may hinder her chances if she comes gets onto the run with a big group, so she will surly try to break most on the bike section. However, who knows what she has been doing behind the scenes over the past nine months.
German Laura Linderman has home advantage and has had podiums at WTS races before including Hamburg. She is a solid all rounder and as said with the men, could find that extra boost by being at home to take a win most would not expect.
Other contenders for the title include Dutch athlete Rachal Klamer who is always consistently top 10 on the WTS scene and of course, French athlete Cassandre Beaugrand is no doubt on her day the fastest runner in the women’s field. With the race being shorter, if she can save enough energy on the bike and allows her legs to do the talking, she could well be the champion.
View the full start list here
