World Triathlon

The World Multisport Championships are heading off-road. Following the elite duathlon action across Friday and Sunday, cross triathlon will be the next sport on offer in Townsville and the athletes will be taking on a particularly exciting course. Opening proceedings will be a 1km sea swim. Helpfully, the crocodiles of the area have migrated north for the winter in search of warmer climes.

Next up will be a 20.5km bike course with several sharp climbs, including one larger one around the 18km mark that could catch a few out. To conclude, the athletes will complete a two-lap 6km run replete with some steep ascents and treacherous descents. It will not be a race for the faint-hearted by any means. Read on to find out who some of the key names to watch might be.

Elite women

Sandra Mairhofer will not be in Townsville after winning the world title in this event last year. Indeed, none of the podium from Ibiza return. In their place, one name to watch may be Marta Menditto (ITA). The Italian athlete claimed the European title in 2023. She also managed a result of 6th place in Ibiza. With no international results in 2024, her form is a little hard to gauge but should she arrive in top form she will be a sturdy opponent.

Carina Wasle (AUT) finished 4th at the European Cross Championships earlier this year and could potentially build on that result. The Austrian champion has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career across the multisport disciplines and actually won the European Cross title in 2010 and the World Winter Triathlon crown in 2009.

Charlotte McShane (AUS) continues her multisport odyssey in Townsville. She placed 7th in the individual duathlon event after feeling unwell in the morning of the race. With tomorrow’s race to be opened with a more familiar swim start, she might threaten the podium. Elsewhere, McShane’s compatriot Kate Bramley (AUS) won the Oceania title in her last international appearance in 2020. Another starter in Townsville, Jacqueline Allen (GBR), finished 2nd at the same event in the Snowy Mountains and likewise not back since. On their days, both Bramley and Allen could tear up the off-road course.

Elite men

In the elite men’s race, the defending champion Felix Forrissier will not be competing. His absence therefore opens the door for Lukas Kocar (CZE) to upgrade his silver medal from last year. Kocar also added a silver medal at the 2023 European Cross Championships and so has proven his ability at the highest level. That being said, he has not raced internationally in 2024 and his form does carry a slight question mark.

Meanwhile, Michele Bonacina (ITA) arrives in a similar position to his fellow Italian Menditto. Bonacina won the European Cross Triathlon title in 2023 and finished 7th at the World Championships. However, at the 2024 edition of the European Championships Bonacina slipped to 7th place. The field also contains a mixture between experienced hands like Ben Allen (AUS) and up and coming contenders like Hugo Jan Bosscher (NED). On a challenging course, one mishap could reshape the race and the field is more than capable of exploiting the presentation of any such opportunity.

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