Bold Breakaways Best the Rest at Championship Finals

TOGETHER WITH CREDOTRI

Good morning everyone,

It’s Kona week! And I’m sure if you’ve been tuning in you’ve been inundated with palm trees, tropical waters, and lava-filled expanses. We maaayyy be having some FOMO!

But in all seriousness, it’s a fun time of year to be following the sport, and no doubt by the time Saturday rolls around we’ll be ready to see the athletes take the course and be inspired by incredible efforts!

In today’s edition:

• 🌍 Bold breakaways win the day at World Triathlon Championship Finals.

• 🍌 Not keen on another gel? Try these real food alternatives for your next workout.

• ⚡ And should you be training with heart rate or power? The answer might surprise you!

Thanks for being here.

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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ONE BIG THING

Bold Breakaways Best the Rest at World Triathlon Championship Finals

What is it: This weekend the crown jewel of World Triathlon’s race calendar - The Championship Finals - took place in Torremolinos, Spain. And after a tragic start to the event, the athletes came together to put on an incredible show.

Age-group deaths: The race weekend started on a tragic note when it was confirmed that two athletes had passed away during the age-group Sprint distance World Championships - one athlete representing Great Britain, the other representing Mexico.

• It was has been revealed that Mark Stokes (GBR) and Roger Mas (MEX) were the athletes who tragically passed away.

• In a reel posted to Instagram, an athlete who witnessed one of the deaths cited “some of the worst lifeguarding” he’d ever seen at a triathlon event.

Future fighters: The Junior and U23 World Championships showcased the athletes who will feature heavily at the LA 2028 Olympics and beyond. Spain’s David Cantero was the home crowd hero as he claimed victory in the men’s U23 World Championship.

• Karolina Horvath (HUN) showed she will be one to watch out for as she broke the tape in the women’s U23 World Championship.

• And the France medal factory continued to pump out champions as Ambre Grassett won the women’s Junior World Championship, while the men’s race saw Nils Serre take the crown.

Paratri performers: Jetz Plat (NED, PTWC), Susanna Rodriguez (ESP, PTVI), and Grace Norman (USA, PTS5) had the weight of expectations on their shoulders, but they comfortably burdened it while winning the World Championship once again in their respective categories.

• Canada’s Stefan Daniel (CAN, PTS5) overcame a devastating Paralympic crash as he once again returned to the top step in Torremolinos.

Full paratriathlon results

Elite action: With big paydays and world titles on the line, the elite races offered incredible action, intrigue, and some wild moments!

Women’s race

Swim chaos: With a first World Title firmly in her grasp, Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand almost let it slip loose when she astonishingly swam the wrong way to the first buoy.

Watch: Cassandre Beaugrand shockingly takes the wrong course.

Bike breakaway: A large mass of athletes exited the water together, but a front pack of 12 quickly formed. Emma Lombardi (FRA) and Beth Potter (GBR) were joined by 10 other athletes, which also improbably included Beaugrand who had put in a herculean effort to return to the front pack.

• The chase group, which included World Championship hopeful Lisa Tertsch (GER), steadily lost time to the front as the ride wore on.

• Big efforts from Jessica Fullagar (GBR) helped keep the pace high and further extend the gap to over ninety seconds as the athletes hit T2.

Beaugrand blasts off: The Olympic champion’s extra swimming clearly did not slow her down as she pulled away from Potter and Lombardi only a few kilometers into the run.

• She would go on to run an explosive 33:08 10km and have plenty of time to soak in the finish line atmosphere as the new women’s World Champion.

• Potter would take silver over Lombardi in the closing stages.

Full women’s results

Men’s race

Steady swim: While the wind whipped up a chop for Saturday’s women’s Grand Final, the men were treated to calm seas on Sunday. Matt Hauser (AUS) and Thiago Silva (POR) did their best to break up the groups as they traded the lead at the front.

(Another) Bike breakaway: A large group of over 30 athletes joined together after the swim and it appeared that it would be a stunted spin till the run. But a misfortunate crash for Hauser seriously altered the direction of the race, and almost the World Championship title.

With Hauser going down a group of five athletes including Hayden Wilde (NZ), Leo Bergere (FRA), Vincent Luis (FRA), Tayler Reid (NZ), and Simon Westerman (SUI) were able to quickly organize and established a gap over the disorganized chase group.

• Alex Yee (GBR), who needed to finish sixth or better to win the world title, tried to bring back the leaders but couldn’t organize a group who were willing to work for the fleet-footed Brit.

• By the end of the bike, the breakaway group had over 90 seconds on the chase pack. Yee could still win the world title, but the Grand Final win was firmly out of his grasp.

Crowd goes Wilde: Similar to the women’s race, a lone athlete (Hayden Wilde) would take the lead and cruise to the line with plenty of time to spare. Behind, Bergere would push himself to a strong second, while Yee would chew up the pavement and cross the line in third. The result would allow Yee to claim his first world title.

Full men’s results

World championship glory: For the first time since 2021, athletes were able to lay claim to the Olympic/World Championship double with Yee and Beaugrand achieving both.

• Leo Bergere and Hayden Wilde would finish second and third in the men’s World Triathlon Championship Series rankings.

• While Beth Potter and Emma Lombardi ended up in second and third in the women’s WTCS rankings.

Full WTCS results

Tempo’s take: Other than the tragic deaths early on the Championship Finals appeared to be a success. It was an exceptional showcase of World Triathlon’s future and current talent as the breakaway heroics of the elite races provided the intrigue that should be experienced at every World Series event.

• It was also an opportunity to see World Triathlon legend and World Champion Vincent Luis (FRA) in his final short-course race. His finish line emotion showed just how important this final race was.

The action wasn’t just on the course, as the World Triathlon congress met on the sidelines of the event to determine who would take over from 12-year President, Marisol Casado. After a controversial election that saw “unholy alliances, dodgy deals, and dirty tricks,” Antonio Fernández Arimany (ESP) was elected the new president of World Triathlon.

• He’ll have plenty of work ahead of him as the international governing body grapples with a lack of commercialization of key assets, a fractured media environment, and waning interest in hosting its marquee races.

TOGETHER WITH CREDOTRI

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FAVORITES

🍌 Real food fuel: Sometimes you just don’t want to take down another gel during training. So instead of reaching for that fifth Maurten, try these real food alternatives for fueling your long rides and runs! [Outside]

⚡ Heart rate or power? Power or heart rate. Which metric is the best for your cycling training and race performance? In this video a leading sports scientist breaks down the surprising answer! [Dylan Johnson/YouTube]

💡 Wurf’s way: Cam Wurf is one of the most interesting figures in endurance sports. As an Olympic rower, professional cyclist, and IRONMAN champion triathlete he has the secrets to competing at a high level as an older athlete. Learn them and so much more in this exceptional podcast. [Rich Roll]

😫 Recovery position: You’ve just finished a race where you laid it all on the line. And now you’re bent over trying to suck as much oxygen back as you can. But have you ever wondered why you do this? And is there a faster way to recover? Find the intriguing answer here. [Health HP]

REEL TIME

“Don’t have any nutrition while you’re racing.” Definitely listen to these good (bad) triathlon tips! 🤣

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RACE WEEKEND

T100 Triathlon World Tour - Lake Las Vegas

The sixth and penultimate round before the Grand Final saw athletes make the most of their opportunity, and put their names in the hat for a six-figure contract for next season.

Women’s race: Taylor Knibb (USA) once again dominated from start to finish as she swam in the front group, rode over four minutes faster than the next athlete 🤯, and ran comfortably to the win. 

• Recent Olympic silver medalist Julie Derron continued her string of T100 silvers, and Olympic gold medalist Flora Duffy (BER) had a breakthrough day finishing in third!

Men’s race: It was a Belgian battle for the win that saw Jelle Geens take down the previously undefeated Martin Van Riel. Justus Nieschlag (GER) rounded out the podium in third.

Full results

TEMPO EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE

• Strength training for your next breakthrough race!

• Why you should train faster, but not harder! (Vol. 2)

• Why you should train faster, but not harder! (Vol. 3)

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