1. Super League Triathlon has upped the ante. Compared to the fast-paced, multi-transition, mixed-up world that Chris McCormack and co have delivered, the World Series – even at sprint distance – looks pedestrian. It’s particularly a problem on the bike, where triathletes such as Flora Duffy and Alistair Brownlee, who can really blow racing apart, are sorely missed. The men’s race in Abu Dhabi was effectively neutralised until T2, and if new fans are to be engaged, that must change.

2. Abu Dhabi’s state-of-the-art Yas Marina motor-racing circuit fails to convince. Yes, it’s a fillip that ITU now has an established venue for the World Series curtain-raiser and the warm climate is no doubt welcomed by the triathletes. But the eerie, empty grandstands draw obvious if unfair comparisons with the fervour of when Formula One lands here in December, and the wide, sweeping track also doesn’t make for exciting cycle racing – until the bike tyres hit a patch of motor oil.

3. Transition practice under pressure pays off. This shouldn’t turn into an ode to Super League, but the new race series could also claim credit for improving triathletes’ competency in triathlon’s ‘fourth discipline’. Although the men’s individual race arrived at T1 in a large pack, it was Vincent Luis, Ben Kanute and Henri Schoeman – all fresh from Super League in Singapore – who emerged first to form an early three-man break on the bike.

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4. Mario Mola cements the favourite tag. While Luis, Schoeman and Kristian Blummenfelt were putting on a show at Super League over the past few months, the genial Spaniard was getting stuck into winter training. Arriving fresh in Abu Dhabi, he showed he will again be the man to beat as he looks for a fourth successive world title, which would be an unprecedented feat in short-course racing.

5. Alex Yee can win a World Series race in 2019. If the 21-year-old’s performance to win a World Cup race in Cape Town last month was a breakthrough, then finishing runner-up in on his World Series debut was another level again. While British Triathlon will not want to rush Yee’s development, there’s little reason he cannot claim a win on the series in 2019 if he stays fit and healthy. A lack of challenging bike courses that could otherwise break up the race and leave him isolated before the run, also plays to Yee’s advantage.

6. Olympic gold is anyone’s right now. Although wins for Katie Zafares and Mola in Abu Dhabi will surprise no-one, looking ahead to Tokyo 2020, it appears as wide-open as it ever has in a pre-Olympic year. Both Zafares and Mola have earned their No 1 status through consistency more than triumphing on the big one-off occasion, and there are other established performers, up-and-coming talent, and big names currently on the sidelines such as Flora Duffy, Nicola Spirig and even Alistair Brownlee, who could all have a case made for them.

7. Consistency working for Non Stanford. The Welsh triathlete has been blighted by injury since winning the world title in 2013, but a move to Canadian Joel Filliol’s training group, where consistency has largely replaced intensity, looks to have put her in good stead for a solid season. Although unable to make the front pack on the bike, Stanford was quicker than France’s Cassandre Beaugrand – arguably the fastest runner in the sport – over the last 5km to make the top five.

8. The Americans just keep coming. Just when you might have thought they couldn’t become any stronger, the USA’s impressive roster of senior talent now includes the fast-blossoming Taylor Knibb. The 21-year-old has won successive junior and U23 world titles and finished fourth in Abu Dhabi, yet still looks far from the finished article. She’s already one of the strongest bikers in the field – in last year’s U23 Championship in Gold Coast she was 2:30mins quicker on two wheels than the rest of the field. Some serious pedal power.

9. Jessica Learmonth’s strength could be Britain’s undoing. Learmonth once again showed that she’s the fastest female swimmer in ITU racing, but the knock-on effect is that her British team-mates become relegated to also-rans. The Leeds’ triathlete’s pace upfront had the biggest impact on Stanford, Vicky Holland and Georgia Taylor-Brown not being able to make the front pack in Abu Dhabi. While it’s not a pressing issue because the women race as individuals on the World Series, when it comes to Olympic selection, it could make for some tricky decisions for selectors.

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10. The Aussies, Americans and French are mixed relay aces. While New Zealand snuck into third place in the final reckoning, it was only because world champions France were served a penalty on the final leg. That’s racing, of course, but it also didn’t mask that Australia, USA and France are currently head and shoulders above the other nations when it comes to the format. Britain were without the Brownlees, granted, but whether Team GB’s undoubted experience can match the specificity and youthful endeavour of the top three looks increasingly questionable.

London based Sigma Sports bring an array of names to the show over the weekend; Tacx, Specialized, MAAP, VEL, Maurten and Black Sheep Clothing all featuring at their stand. A mix of urban and E-bikes will be on display from Ribble, as they continue to diversify, alongside their popular range of road bikes.

Tri UK once again bring with them a whole host of familiar names; Cannondale, GT, Fabric, Cervélo, Focus, Muc Off, 2XU, Dirty Dog, Mizuno, Dare2Tri and Foor Wetsuits. Canyon will be at hand to showcase their latest models for 2019 alongside the World Champion bikes of Mathieu Van Der Poel, Alejandro Valverde and Patrick Lange, and offering attendees the chance to test ride a selection of Canyon bikes on the show’s official test track.

Award winning OTE Sports bring their naturally flavoured nutrition range to the show, as well as Team GB athletes Alistair & Jonny Brownlee and Georgia Taylor-Brown. Urban electric bikes, Gocycle, display their full choice of models at the show including the new GX; from super fast folding builds to the optimum commuting companion.

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Brownlees to open The London Bike Show and Triathlon Show: London

The all-star line up for The Triathlon Show: London

Triathlon brands such as HUUB and Zone 3 shall provide attendees the opportunity to test their wetsuits during the three days too. Wattbike, Hedkayse, Calibre Bikes and Oakley are all in attendance as well, while Ison Distribution bring with them Surly, The Light Blue, BZ Optics and Miss Grape Bikepacking. Polar, Gore, On and Hoka shall be hosted by Alton Sports, while Atherton Bikes offer the public their first look at the prototype bikes which they have been developing with Dan, Rachel and Gee; who shall also be speaking on the main stage. 

Frazer Clifford, Show Owner, said of the announcement: “We are proud to have assembled such a fantastic array of exciting brands, firm favourites and new, from the world of both cycling and triathlon. As ever, the shows offer attendees the chance to get up close with much loved brands, gain first hand insight and test ride bikes they have always wanted. With another fantastic schedule of speakers across all three days as well, there is always something to be enjoyed while at the shows.”

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To see the full list of brands exhibiting at the London Bike Show and Triathlon Show: London 2019, visit www.thelondonbikeshow.co.uk/exhibitors

Coninx, a former junior and under-23 world champion, produced a gutsy performance to claw his way back in the second half of the run before pulling away from veteran Gomez and Norwegian Gustav Iden to take the tape in 1:50:36.

It was a race full of surprises, with Britain’s Jonny Brownlee short of his best form on the run to finish 11th and world champion Mario Mola cut adrift during the swim to tail in 26th.

“It’s just crazy,” Coninx said. “The run was really hard, but I think I paced it well. I’ve never had the perfect race before this one, but I guess the planets aligned today.”

While Coninx was recording his first World Series victory, 35-year-old Gomez secured a remarkable 38th podium in 57 starts. The five-time ITU world champion, who last raced in the World Series in the Grand Final in Rotterdam in 2017, has returned to short course racing eyeing a fourth attempt at Olympic glory next year.

“It was very tough race and none of us had much left at the end,” Gomez said. “I closed my eyes and went as hard as I could. I was pretty happy with my race. I knew I was fit but after being out for a year, but you don’t know how much the others have moved on.

“My goal is to qualify for Tokyo. I’m enjoying what I’m doing and want to give it a shot and see how it goes.”

Coninx’s compatriot Vincent Luis finished fourth having produced his most impressive World Series swim to date to lead out of the water in 17:54, 10 seconds clear of Brownlee with renowned Slovakian swimmer Richard Varga and Gomez even further back.

Luis, who has won the past two World Series Grand Finals and the inaugural Super League title in February, led a group of 19 on to the bike, and with Brownlee driving them up the first of 10 climbs of the testing Corkscrew Hill they quickly opened a 45sec lead over the chasers.

By halfway the lead pack had been whittled down to 16, but with Brownlee bereft of allies to push the pace, the advantage over the second group was also halved. Norwegian trio Kristian Blummenfelt, Casper Stornes and Iden – looking to provide another spectacle after sweeping the podium 2018 – were all prominent among the chase group.

None of this was helping three-time and reigning world champion Mola, who was languishing almost 2mins down. The Spaniard finished fourth in Bermuda in 2018, the only time all season he failed to make the top two, and it would be another unsatisfactory day for the favourite as the gap extended to almost 3mins by the time he completed the ride.

At the sharp end, the race came back together, before a three-man break in the final 10km of the bike involving Jorik van Egdom, Coninx and German Jonas Schomburg, led to the latter breaking away and reaching T2 with a 35sec lead.

The 25-year-old had finished 18th in Abu Dhabi in the opening race and 10th in the European Championship in Glasgow last year, but had never threatened a World Series podium before and the lead lasted barely one lap of the four-lap 10km course before a six-man pack of Blummenfelt, Gomez, Iden, Luis, Portugal’s Joao Periera and Commonwealth champion Henri Schoeman gained the ascendancy.

With Periera and Schoeman unable to stick the pace, Coninx then fought his way back to the front group in an increasingly unpredictable contest. Gomez seized the initiative with 3km remaining and Blummenfelt was next to drop off, followed by Luis, as the lead changed hands several times approaching the final throes.

Coninx’s kick up the last climb proved decisive and he held the gap to claim the $18,000 first prize, with Gomez pipping Iden in a sprint on the blue carpet for second, meaning the Norwegian repeated his third-place finish of last year.

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Luis moved to the top of the overall standings ahead of Spain’s Fernando Alarza and France’s Leo Bergere, but with six races remaining there is all to play for as they head to Yokohama in Japan in three weeks.

Zafares, 29, who was narrowly beaten to the world title by Vicky Holland in the final race of the 2018 season, made it two wins from two WTS starts after victory in Abu Dhabi in March.

Holland finished 15th having broken away with the leaders early in the 40km bike ride, but was unable to hold the pace. Fellow Brit Georgia Taylor-Brown came through for fifth, with Non Stanford producing the fastest run leg in the field to claim 13th.

The home crowd had hoped to see the return of local favourite and Commonwealth champion Flora Duffy, who had succeeded with a solo charge to win the inaugural WTS contest on the island last year.

But Duffy, who has struggled with injury since taking the Commonwealth title last spring, withdrew in the build-up and has delayed setting a date for her return.

In her absence, Zafares became the dominant force and looked untroubled on the run, closing out with a 34:36 10km split and a comfortable 1:41 victory margin.

“Inspired by Flora in last year’s race I just wanted to commit to those first few laps [on the bike],” she said. “Jess and Lotte [Miller] did so much work, we just kept pushing the entire 10 laps and it put us in a good position for the run.”

A downpour and flash floods greeted the start of the women’s race, meaning choppier conditions and poor visibility during the swim and plenty of surface water for the beginning of the bike leg.

“It was torrential,” Learmonth said. “I was halfway through [the swim] and ready to roll on to my back and put my arm in the air to be rescued – you couldn’t see a thing. So that were a drama. On the bike, Zafares is a train – I was dying. The run, I was just trying to get through. I’m glad we got just enough time because I was hanging on. I’m delighted with second place.”

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As has become routine in WTS racing, Learmonth led the out of the water after the 1.5km two-lap swim, but world champion Holland was in close attendance along with Holland’s Maya Kingma. Zafares was fourth leaving T1 and quickly closed the gap as they approached the first of 10 climbs up Corkscrew Hill – the one meaningful incline on the course – showing her power that would soon split the race apart.

Norway’s Miller also made the front pack and after Kingma had been jettisoned it was Holland who was next to suffer as the front three broke away.

From there Zafares continued to drive the pace and the gap over the 40km bike ride grew from seconds to minutes as the trio built on their advantage.

They made it to T2 over 2mins clear of the second pack and although Learmonth was first to emerge, Zafares quickly forged ahead and by the end of the first 2.5km lap was 23sec clear.

Miller’s valiant effort to equal Gustav Iden’s feat in the men’s race and grab the final podium berth for Norway was thwarted when Canadian Commonwealth bronze medallist Joanna Brown passed her with 3km remaining.

Miller eventually dropped to eighth to add to her sixth place in Abu Dhabi, but it was a brave performance that suggests it’s not just the Scandinavian men who are becoming a force to be reckoned with at this level.

Learmonth wasn’t threatened for second, and although she is yet to win a World Series race, has now recorded five podiums along with Commonwealth silver and a European title.

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The 31-year-old lies second in the overall standings behind Zafares, with USA’s Taylor Spivey in third and Georgia Taylor-Brown in fourth.

1. Consistent Zafares is now a consistent winner. USA’s Katie Zafares has been both upbeat and up in the top 10 since she first competed at World Series level in 2014. But while her ranking has steadily improved, it could be levelled that until this season 17 podiums had only resulted in a single victory. Not any more. Zafares win in Bermuda means a 100% start to 2019 as she backed up success in Abu Dhabi and justified her world No 1 ranking. She is now, resoundingly, the woman to beat.

2. Gomez is back and doesn’t look as if he’s been away. The five-time ITU world champion had not raced on the World Series since the Grand Final in Rotterdam in 2017, but after an ominous fifth place in a World Cup race in New Zealand, his runner-up position here showed his thoroughbred qualities. There are plenty of ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’, but while Gomez’s return might threaten most of the field, it could also signal good news for the Brownlees. The tactical nuances of triathlon racing mean that while the Spaniard was once their arch-nemesis, he could now be a staunch ally in trying to carve out swim-bike breakaways to distance the faster runners, giving all three their best shot at glory.

3. The top step is Learmonth’s challenge. While neutrality should be an important part of a reporter’s repertoire, it’s hard not to be swayed by Jess Learmonth. In Bermuda, we once again saw her honest endeavours at the head of the race (and honest appraisal afterwards), but while it secured a fifth WTS podium, it’s tricky to see how they’ll be turned into victories any time soon. Her run form is improving, and little should be read into the 10km splits given the lion share of work she puts in on the bike, but leaving T2 having shaken off a runner of the calibre of Zafares or previously Flora Duffy, is her only chance of victory in the short term – and that looks unlikely.

4. Bermuda is a corker of a venue, not only due to Corkscrew Hill. Even without the drama of last year’s World Series races, the tiny island still made for a successful stopover on the ITU calendar. It was a shame for all that Duffy, whose face adorned every giant promotional poster on the island, had to withdraw from the elite racing (she did cycle in an age-group relay), but this second edition showed what a great course – with 10 climbs up the steep, twisting Corkscrew Hill – engaging crowds and plenty of drama can achieve. Bermuda hosts the Grand Final in 2021 and let’s hope it continues as a WTS staple thereafter.

5. Brownlee misses Brownlee. Jonathan had an off day in Bermuda, but it was still clear he missed older brother Alistair’s legs and enthusiastic encouragement on the bike. Despite the Yorkshireman’s best efforts early on, the large front pack never looked organised or committed enough to keep the chasers at bay, and Jonny even looked to be remonstrating with Vincent Luis as their lead perished. The frustration was understandable – particularly on a course where breakaways have been shown to stick – and having Alistair there would surely have changed the contest’s complexion.

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6. Luis remains an enigma. Vincent Luis looks to have the qualities to be the best triathlete in the world – including a dangerous sprint finish. Despite Dorian Coninx’s win here, Luis is still the pick of a strong crop of Frenchmen, having won the past two WTS Grand Finals and looking head-and-shoulders the best triathlete at the new Super League format at the start of the year. In non-wetsuit conditions in Bermuda, he even led out the swim ahead of the likes of Slovakian Richard Varga and South African Henri Schoeman and while Luis didn’t dominate on the bike, he looked well placed to capitalise on the run, before his challenge wilted in the final kilometres as he slipped to fourth. It brought back memories of the Rio Olympics in 2016 where he looked perfectly placed to win a medal over the final 10km but ended an ultimately disappointing seventh. While Luis has the talent, a sense remains that apply enough pressure and there’s a chance he’ll falter.

7. Norwegians look ever-more threatening. The Norwegian endurance set-up may be best known for its middle distance running family, the remarkable Ingebrigtsens, but its triathlon programme – small but intensely focussed – is now rivalling the leading training squads in the world. The triumvirate of Casper Stornes, Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden took last year’s Bermuda race by storm, and while 2019 didn’t play out to the same script, they still affected the race greatly, hunting down the break on the bike and allowing Iden to repeat his third-place finish of last year. But it is not just the men’s side worth noting. Lotte Miller might have finished eighth in Bermuda, but played an integral role driving the bike breakaway alongside Zafares and Learmonth and retained a podium position almost to the last lap of the run. 

8. Non Stanford is running. Faster. It won’t be a race the Welsh triathlete will cherish, she languished 33rd in the swim, 74sec off the pace and didn’t even make the chasing bike pack, but she did produce the fastest run split of the day – rare for someone not in contention for a podium position – to finish with 34.21 for 13th place. It shows the new training switch to Joel Filliol’s squad is paying dividends, if less through the intensity of the sessions, but for consistency and staying injury-free. Yokohama may come too soon for her to challenge for the necessary podium that would go a long way towards Olympic selection, but after fifth-place in Abu Dhabi, there are signs she can be a genuine threat – and of the British women, she possesses the fastest final leg that will be critical come Tokyo.

9. British men need points. Jonathan Brownlee, the only British man racing, finished 11th, to underline the current void in British men’s short course racing, and it’s slack that others need to pick up if Team GB is to comfortably qualify all three individual Olympic berths for Tokyo. Jonathan and the consistent Tom Bishop should play their part, but with no Alistair Brownlee at present, the next generation of Gordon Benson, Marc Austin and Grant Sheldon – all junior or world Under-23 medallists – hasn’t burst through either, and it’s a lot to ask of either the developing Barclay Izzard or Ben Dijkstra. Alex Yee was impressive for second in Abu Dhabi, so Britain should be fine in cementing its powerhouse status, but it is a little quiet at WTS level at present.

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10. Yokohama Olympic qualification race is almost here. Already. The first chance of securing one of two necessary podiums for Olympic qualification (the other being the Tokyo test event) for most British elite triathletes is now just three weeks away, yet it feels that only Jess Learmonth and Alex Yee are in anything like the form they’d desire. The British selection policy is routinely written to try and put a belt and braces on potential medal-winning triathletes going to Tokyo, rather than a freak race earning an unlikely candidate a spot. But Yokohama in May could be the best chance for someone outside the obvious contenders to stake a claim. The current start-lists include Bishop, Brownlee and Yee for the men, and Holland, Stanford, Learmonth and Taylor-Brown for the women.

In addition, each age-group winner at the 2020 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Taupõ, New Zealand, will automatically qualify for the 2021 70.3 World Championship.

“Our course showcases some of the most dramatic landscapes on the Ironman 70.3 circuit. The powerful combination of scenery and terrain is backed up by an energetic community that’s exhilarated to host such an iconic event. Athletes who have raced here rave about the experience. Those who haven’t are about to find out why,” says Kevin Lewis, Director of Washington County Tourism. 

Ironman have also announced the introduction of a new full-distance Ironman triathlon that will rotate between a series of cities across North America, beginning with St. George in 2020. The rotation will bring host cities a full-distance Ironman every three years with St. George again hosting the full Ironman distance event in 2023.

The 2020 and 2023 events will also be designated as the North American Championship and general registration for the 2020 event will open on Tuesday, May 21. As it will be designated the Ironman North American Championship, the event will have an elevated professional prize purse and offer 75 age-group qualification slots to the 2020 Ironman World Championship.  

St. George, will continue to put on 70.3 events in the other years (2019, 2021 and 2022), giving athletes the chance to prepare on the same courses. an

“Utah continues to enhance its reputation as the State of Sport by attracting world class sports events and executing on its sport and Olympic Legacy strategies,” said Jeff Robbins, President and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “St. George is the perfect setting to host six events over the five-year term of this agreement with Ironman. This includes the 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Championship, which will bring thousands of competitors and guests from over 100 countries to Utah. The Utah Sports Commission is excited to support these world class events as the presenting sponsor,” said Robbins.

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The course has historically begun in the beautiful Sand Hollow Reservoir before embarking on a bike course through picturesque Snow Canyon State Park prior to a run through the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. 

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Alistair Brownlee won the 70.3 St. George event in 2017 in commanding fashion on his 70.3 debut.

Shortly after the broadcast starts at 6:15am, the race will kick off with the 3.8km swim in the Main-Danube Canal, followed by the 180km bike leg and finishing with the marathon. The winner of DATEV Challenge Roth will probably finish below the magic eight-hour mark again. The world’s fastest time set by Jan Frodeno in Roth in 2016 is 7:35:39, and the women’s record (Chrissie Wellington, 8:18:13 in Roth) has not been beaten anywhere in the world since it was set in 2011.

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Christoph Netzel, sports director of BR Fernsehen said, “The triathlon in Roth is a real spectacle and an extreme challenge for the participants. 2019 will also be a real “challenge” for us – BR Sport will become the long-distance TV channel, we will broadcast live almost continuously from 6:15 to 3:30 pm on BR Television. We are thrilled to bring our viewers this very special premiere – world-class sport, a fantastic backdrop, garnished with many Franconian stories and lots of human interest!”

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Just to recap, the 31-year-old’s last three short course-triathlons appearances included a disqualification at the 2018 WTS Grand Final due to congestion in the swim at the first buoy, a fourth in the 2018 Glasgow European Championships and 10th in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. But, unsurprisingly, he’s fared better over the middle distance, where he’s focused most of his attention. Results there include a second place at the 2018 70.3 Worlds behind Jan Frodeno and ahead of Javier Gomez, in perhaps one of the greatest 70.3 battles of all time.

Back to Cagliari and, if fit, Brownlee senior should make light work of the field. Challengers include Mexico’s Rodrigo Gonzalez and Germany’s Justus Nieschlag as well as Italians Delian Stateff and Davide Uccellari.

For the full men’s start list click here

5 triathlon tips from Alistair Brownlee

  
While Alistair has stolen the headlines, GB will also have strong representation on the women’s side – bothJodie Stimpson and Sophie Coldwell will be toeing the line and hoping that together they can drive the bike to set up a medal-winning finale. Stimpson wears the number one in her first start of the year, while Coldwell marked her return to action with a fourth in Madrid a fortnight ago.

For the full women’s start list click here

You can follow all the action as it unfolds exclusively on TriathlonLIVE.tv as well and on social media channels via the hashtag #CagliariWC

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What’s next for the Brownlees?
Alistair & Jonny Brownlee’s top speed tips for Olympic-distance triathlon
Alistair Brownlee’s key triathlon training sessions

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Here’s why we named London Tri one of the best triathlons for beginners in the UK

So if you have, or know someone who has, always wanted to take up tri then read on!

Interested? Here’s what you need to be able to do:

Be able to swim 200m non-stop in the pool. It doesn’t matter what stroke. 
Own your own bike or be able to borrow one.
Be available on 27 July to take part in the 2019 London Triathlon.
Be vocal and let us know what stopped you from doing a triathlon before, what would motivate more women to take part and tell us how we can make the whole experience better.
Provide video an/or written content over the 8-week training period that we can use to inspire more women to get into triathlon. 
Be physically healthy.  Please check with your doctor if you are unsure if this is a suitable event and training experience for you.

In return you will get:

Free entry to the 2019 London Triathlon Super Sprint – Swim 400m, Bike 10km, Run 2.5km.

VIP Experience on the day with the Her Spirit Team. 
8-week training and nutrition plan.
3 x 1:1 online coaching sessions. 
Monthly group Skype call.
1 group coached session. Location TBC.
Use of a wetsuit over the 8-week period and on race day.
FREE 3-month subscription to the Her Spirit app.
A free copy of 220 Triathlon magazine and a copy of 220’s Beginners Guide to Triathlon

We will select the first 20 women that complete the sign-up form below and fit the criteria we are looking for. If you’re interested, please click below and fill in the required fields and someone will be in touch! For any questions please [email protected]

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Sign up at herspirit.co.uk/my-first-triathlon/

How to train for your first triathlon
Sprint & super-sprint triathlons: 14 of the UK’s best for beginners