Athletes and E. Coli the Big Winners in Paris

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In today’s edition:

• 🤮 Olympic test event struggles with water quality issues.

• 🏆 PTO Asian Open crowns inaugural winners.

• 🏊🏻‍♀️ And key tips to swim faster - without a pull buoy!

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-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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ONE BIG THING

Athletes and E-Coli Reign Supreme at Paris Olympic Test Event

What happened: One year out from the 2024 Olympics, athletes had the opportunity to test themselves on the streets of Paris and next year’s Olympic course.

• Fears of poor water quality seemed for naught, as the elite men and women competed in a full triathlon on Thursday and Friday morning.

• However, on Saturday morning, the para triathletes woke up to the news that the swim portion of their event would be canceled and that they would be competing in a duathlon.

Sunday’s mixed team relay was also changed to a duathlon due to poor water quality beyond World Triathlon’s acceptable standards, with very nasty levels of e-coli.

Women’s race: There was a distinct gap out of the swim that separated the field into the haves and the have-nots. This set up an epic run battle between Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) and Beth Potter (GBR), with the Brit dropping the hammer in the final hundred meters to take the thrilling victory.

• Taylor Knib (USA), Laura Lindemann (GER), and Nina Eim (GER) all hit their respective countries’ automatic Olympic selection criteria and will be on the start line next year in Paris.

• Full results here.

Men’s race: The race never really broke up until the run, with over 50 athletes exiting T2 together. Alex Yee (GBR) pretty much had the race sewn up halfway through, but behind him there was an all-out battle for the remaining podium positions.

• Six athletes hit the finishing together with Vasco Vilaca (POR) and Dorian Coninx (FRA) sprinting for glory to nab the final podium positions.

• Hayden Wilde (NZ), the only man to challenge Yee this season, had an unfortunate bike accident pre-race and could not contest the run.

• Yee, Morgan Pearson (USA), and Tim Hellwig (GER) also hit their respective countries’ automatic Olympic selection criteria, and will be on the start line next year in Paris.

• Full results here.

Para results: In the ever-competitive men’s PTS5, pre-race favourite Stefan Daniel (CAN) was upset by USA’s Chris Hammer. In the women’s race, the consistent champion Grace Norman took another commanding victory.

• Jetz Plat (NED) and Lauren Parker (AUS) took the wins in the PTWC.

• Mauritz Morsink (NED) took the men’s PTS2, while Anu Francis (AUS) continued her successful transition from rowing to take the women’s win.

• Daniel Molina (ESP) and Elise Marc (FRA) broke the tape in their respective PTS3 races.

• Kelly Elmlinger (USA) dominated the women’s PTS4 race, while Alexis Hanquinquant (FRA) won in a tight battle with a compatriot.

• Anja Renner (GER) used a devastating run to take the women’s PTVI category, while Dave Ellis (GBR) cruised to victory in the men’s.

• Full results here.

Mixed team relay: Sunday’s relay was also a duathlon that saw the typically dominant French be defeated in their own barn. Germany’s Laura Lindemann broke the tape ahead of Beth Potter and her GB squad.

• Full results here.

Tempo’s take: With the athletes racing up and down the iconic Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower and its grand presence always looming within frame, it was a scene that triathlon dreams are made of. And for a couple of days, it was. But the nightmare of a duathlon (sorry duathletes) soon followed as hundreds of years of infrastructure design and poor water quality management reared its ugly head.

The Olympic organizers got their postcard course, but it couldn’t be delivered. For the second test event in a row, the para triathletes could not compete in a triathlon.

• Serious decisions need to be made ahead of next year’s games. If they can’t showcase a proper triathlon when it matters most, then they need to find a better location. We’ve heard Nice is nice.

RACE WEEKEND

Blummenfelt and Gentle Take PTO Titles in Singapore

What is it: The final round of the 2023 Professional Triathletes Organization’s flagship tour took place in the heart of Singapore, and the racing was hot, humid and hectic.

Men’s race: After losing his chance for a first PTO tour victory in Milwaukee, Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) made no mistakes in Singapore as he broke the tape with a comfortable margin. Insanely, this was just two days after finishing a respectable 9th at the Paris Olympic test event 🤯 🤯 🤯

• Exiting the swim in the large front pack, Blummenfelt showed his prowess in the sweltering conditions and stayed near the front the entire bike.

• On the run, he used the day’s fastest split to overtake Pieter Heemeryck (BEL).

• Full results

Women’s race: Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) used a clinical approach to take the comfortable win in Singapore as those behind suffered in the brutal heat and humidity.

• She exited the swim in a strong position and used her improved bike strength to further her gap.

• Few can match her running prowess, and only a hard-charging Anne Haug (GER) would keep things somewhat interesting for Gentle.

• She took her third PTO win, and her third USD 100K victory prize 🤑🤑🤑

• Full results.

FAVOURITES

🏊 Swim smoother: Pull buoy in equals instant pace increase. That’s just how it is for some of us! So why do you swim faster with a pull buoy? And can you change it? This great video shows how you can make clear changes to make regular swimming your strength! [Effortless Swimming]

🔎 Time to pivot: Are you affected by the cancellation of Ironman Canada? Well, there are other options! Check out this extensive list of this year’s North American Ironman’s by pro triathlete Cody Beals. [Cody Beals]

🤮 Swimming in it: Open water swimming and illness. They’re an unfortunate pair that seem to be on the rise. But why do we get sick in open water, and what can we do to mitigate it? The TriDoc helps answer that and more! [Triathlete]

🤓 Gravathlete: Gravel bikes may look a lot different from triathlon bikes, but there are many similarities between them. Check out this illuminating article on how gravel bike tech is mostly passed down from triathletes. Turns out we’re all one big trigeek family! [Cycling News]

TOGETHER WITH THE GIST

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TODAY’S DIGIT

2,400

The amount of kilometres Jonas Deichmann has run across America, averaging a marathon a day. This is even more impressive when you consider he recently completed a bike across America. Go Jonas go! [Trizone]

REEL TIME

The scene at the start of this weekend’s Ironman Ireland. Are these conditions OK? Respond to this email to let us know what you think!

@rotty250

Ironman competition in Ireland. For some reason it was not cancelled, 2 competitors died #ironman #roughsea #ireland

QUICK NEWS

🔥 Fire cancellation: In a move that’s not surprising to anyone following the news up in Canada, the popular Ironman Penticton was canceled due to the province of B.C. announcing a state of emergency due to fires. [Global]

🏊️ Swim deaths: Two men participating in Ironman Ireland in Youghal sadly passed away during the swim portion of the race. No details of the deaths were released, though the swim race was shortened to 1.18 miles due to adverse water conditions. Triathlon Ireland, the country’s governing body, said the race as not sanctioned due to the weather. An investigation is ongoing. [BBC]

👟 Who’s up, who’s down: While not exact, Slowtwitch’s user tracking of their user’s preferred shoes three years is insightful. Hoka has fallen slightly, though with $1.4 billion in sales, they aren’t worrying. What is more surprising is the rise of Saucony from 12 percent to 21 percent and ASICS rise from 8 percent to 15 percent (from 2022 to 2023). [Slowtwitch]

YOU SAID

Here’s what readers said about the World Triathlon and the Professional Triathlon Partnership for a long course series.

Many shared their opinions about the changes. A big thanks to our Tempo community for participating.

TEMPO EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE

• Expert analysis: Nail your Ironman training nutrition

• How pro Stefan Daniel prepared for his racing season

• Here’s a typical day for startup employee and triathlete Rob Mackinnon

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