The third and final day of a huge weekend of racing at the 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Montreal sees the Mixed Team Relays take to the course, with World titles for Elite, Jr-U23 and Age-Group on the line, as well as Olympic qualification slots for two men and two women for the elite world champions.
With so much on the line and so much racing already put in for many, several teams have brought in fresh legs, while many of the young stars who made names for themselves in Friday’s Junior World Championships will be getting their first taste of top-level Mixed Relay action.
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One of the countries that has decided to try a new and fresh combination of athletes will be France. Even though the hosts of the Paris 2024 Olympics have already guaranteed two men and two women in the next Olympics, the current Olympic bronze medallists on the Relay don’t want to give away the opportunity of another title. Pierre Le Corre was this Saturday one of the more consistent swimmers, and this would be indeed a great factor to consider for the line ups. Next will be Emma Lombardi, current U23 world champion and 4th place on her debut at the WTCS circuit in Yokohama, fresh as she didn’t compete in the eliminator event.
Team GB will be trying to get a hat-trick of gold medals this weekend in Montreal, with both champions of the WTCS Montreal, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee, lining up tomorrow for the relay, this time along teammates Sophie Coldwell and Samuel Dickinson, who decided to skip the repechage on the hunt for a spot in the final to try to save some energy for the mixed relay.
USA is also bringing fresh legs for the Mixed Relay World Championships, with Kevin Mcdowell as a new addition to a team that will see Seth Rider, Taylor Spivey and Summer Rappaport fighting for the direct qualification spots. The Americans already know what it is to win here in Montreal, as they did last year. The long run from the swim exit to transition will surely play on their advantage, with excellent runners and swimmers in the team.
Team Australia and Team New Zealand know that not only Olympic qualification spots are up for grabs but also a good test of what they can expect in a few weeks at the Commonwealth Games, and both countries will be experimenting with some of the already qualified athletes for the Games, Hayden Wilde, Ainsley Thorpe, Tayler Reid and Nicole Van Der Kaay for the Kiwis, and Jacob Birtwhistle and Natalie Van Coevorden and Brandon Copeland lining up for the gold and green team along with non-qualified Jaz Hedgeland.
Husband and wife duo Richard Murray and Rachel Klamer will likely be tagging each other once again in Montreal for the Dutch team, that will also include Mitch Kolkman and Barbara De Koning, while for the Belgian Hammers, both Jelle Geens and Marten Van Riel planned in the initial line up, along with Valerie Barthelemy and Anne de Vet.
Considering the performance of all the Brazilian athletes in the last 48 hours, Brazil is putting all their cards on the table for a strong performance on the Mixed Relay. Miguel Hidalgo, an excellent swimmer and fast runner, will be doing the first leg, followed by Djenyfer Arnold, Manoel Messias and Vittoria Lopes in charge of the anchor leg.
The Canadians will enjoy the extra push of racing at home and it will be local hero Tyler Mislawchuk the one walking on the pontoon for the first leg, while Emy Legault and Charles Paquet will try to repeat their excellent performances of the weekend, to leave the anchor leg for Dominika Jamnicky.
Another country that will take advantage of the fresh legs of most of their athletes will be Spain, that will have Antonio Serrat Seoane in charge of diving in the water for the first leg, while Sara Perez Sala and Roberto Sanchez Mantecon will be in charge of staying in touch with the lead group, to give the last relay to another excellent swimmer and fast runner, Anna Godoy Contreras.
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The Junior and U23 Mixed Relay World Championship sees some of the athletes who made a name for themselves at Friday’s Junior World Championships back on the start line, including Australia’s men’s silver medallist Toby Powers and USA’s Reese Vannerson who finished in third, and Germany’s Jule Behrens, runner-up here after winning the women’s title in Quarteira in 2021.
Matilda Offord joins powers as part of a new generation of Australian talent, and the women’s junior bronze medallist Livia Gross will be looking to put in a big finish for the Swiss team.
Team Italy field a strong team of youngsters including Fiorenzo Angelini and Myral Greco, French rising stars Paul Georgenthum and Valentin Morlec are joined by Ilona Hadhoum and Candice Denizot.
The exciting junior prospects Chisato Nakajima and Kotomi Anzai start for Japan, and Marcela Alvarez Solis is part of a strong Mexican team. Niels Van Lanen put in an eye-catching display in the men’s race and has the bike power to make an impact.
Full start lists can be found here.
