The World Triathlon Men’s U23 Championships are set to unfold this Thursday, promising a showdown among some of the brightest young talents in the sport. As the competitors toe the start line, all eyes will be on the elite athletes who are not just the stars of tomorrow, but are already making waves today. With the two previous year’s U23 champions skipping the race -Simon Henseleit (GER) is injured and Connor Bentley (GBR) is racing in the Elite category despite being still under 23-, it is time for some new stars to rise.
But the start list for this Thursday is not lacking talent at all. 70 young men are ready to take the streets of Torremolinos-Andalucía by the storm. Set the calendars for Thursday at noon and tune in to TriathlonLive or the World Triathlon’s Youtube channel and don’t miss any of the action. It will be one for the ages!
Wearing the 1 will be Dylan McCullough. The Buenos Aires Youth Olympics champion had a pivotal role in the silver medal of his teammate Hayden Wilde at the Paris 2024 Olympics, helping him bridging the gap on the bike just when the kiwi needed it, proving that his selection for the New Zealand’s Olympic team was worth it. An excellent swimmer, the 1500m swim with a beach start in the cold and flat water in Torremolinos suits him perfectly, and will be a hard one to catch on the bike if he can lead a small breakaway.
2022 U23 Silver medallist at the World Champs Gergely Kiss (HUN) is another excellent swimmer that might also enjoy the conditions in Torremolinos, looking ready to be back in the podium on his last year in the category. And last year’s bronze medallist Mitch Kolkman (NED) is also returning to the start line, eager to defend his podium position and build on his momentum from last year’s thrilling race.
Many eyes will be set on a few young athletes that have already shown their potential in World Cups, like Spain’s David Cantero del Campo. Known for his speed, he already has two World Cup wins and a silver medal on his pocket, and is really looking forward improving his performance last year, were he finished in 12th place.
USA’s John Reed is another one that has collected his first podiums this season, with a win in Karlovy Vary, a bronze in Huatulco and a fourth place in Tiszaujvaros. He has proven in multiple occasions that he is one to beat when it all comes to a run, but is yet to show that it is swimming what should be is best leg, and the U23 World Champs might be his best shot at proving that he is called to be one of the leading athletes for the stars and stripes in the next Olympic cycle.
In a similar situation is Mathis Beaulieu (CAN), one of the canucks’ rising stars, who has already podium before at World Cup level and is looking forward finishing his U23 cycle with a podium this week in Spain.
The German team is always a dangerous one when it comes to the U23 Worlds, and this year it will be Henry Graf leading the squad. Fourth in Rome, fifth at the European Championships in Vichy only a few weeks ago, he seems to be in great form.
The top ten sees a trio of talent out of Asia, including China’s continental sprint champion Junjie Fan and Hong Kong’s Robin Elg, who emerged from the WTCS Weihai swim within ten seconds of Matt Hauser and Vincent Luis.
This year’s championship will also feature seasoned competitors like Hamish Reilly (GBR), bronze medallist two years ago, and determined to leave his mark in the race once more. And another one to follow would be Panagiotis Bitados (GRE), fourth last year and ready to take on the challenge again after the disappointment of not making the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
With the stakes higher than ever, a great mix of experienced athletes and new comers, the race promises to deliver unforgettable action as the young triathletes vie for the title and the opportunity to etch their names in the history of the sport.
Check the full start lists here.