World Triathlon

ITU WTS Yokohama provided a superb platform for paratriathlon racing today, with a total of 56 athletes including some of the world’s best taking to the course as they too looked to earn spots at the Rio Olympic Games or build on their preparations for the biggest event of the year.

Amongst those headlining the action in front of large and appreciative crowds were multiple World Champion Bill Chaffey AUS and up and coming star and 2015 World Champion Stefan Daniel CAN, both would go on to win their categories in style, Chaffey overcoming a time penalty along the way.

“The swim was pretty choppy which made it difficult but I managed to come out first which was good, the Japanese guy I thought would be on my feet because he swims quite well. The ride I was able to put some power down, there are a lot of turns out there, something like 24 corners each lap over the foru laps, despite that I was able to get up some speed on what is a nice fast course.

“I am not sure what happened out there but I came in on the bike and I was told I had a penalty to serve, not sure what it was, couldn’t have been drafting because there was no one in front of me. I don’t know yet what it was for but I served that on the run, it doesn’t matter, I got the win.

“I was nominated to the Paralympic team Rio for Australia after Penrith, but this was always on the cards because as much racing as I can do the better, racing is great training I think, especially against the top guys.”

Daniel at just 19 years old is a relative newcomer to paratriathlon but impressed again in his win in the PT4 category.

“The water was a bit choppy but that just adds to the race, I didn’t focus on that, I just tried to have a good swim and the bike was really nice with lots of turns through downtown, the run was nice and flat and I am just happy to have the win. My next race is Glasgow in Scotland, a lot of the top guys will be there, after that I will race junior able bodied racing, there is lots of competition there so that will be good preparation and then Rio is the final goal.”

Kate Doughty was another Aussie to impress, the Rio bound paratriathlete taking out the women’s PT4 category by almost 6 minutes.

“It was a good race, today was about practicing executing everything as efficiently as possible in the lead up to Rio. Swim was good, I always love this course because the bike is technical but plays to my strengths, great bike and the run I didn’t feel the best with my stomach playing up the whole time but I pushed through it and that is what we try to execute every time we race, but that was just a good race and I love racing here in Japan.”

Category winners:

Men
PT1 Bill Chaffey AUS
PT2 Stefan Loesler GER
PT3 Denis Kungurtcev RUS
PT4 Stefan Daniel CAN
PT5 Ryu Nakazawa JPN

Women
PT1 Mary Callahan USA
PT2 Allysa Seely USA
PT4 Kate Doughty AUS
PT5 Amy Dixon USA