World Triathlon Para Series moves to Swansea for action this Saturday

by courtney.akrigg@triathlon.org on 05 Aug, 2022 03:56 • Español

The World Triathlon Para Series moves to Swansea, Wales, for the next edition of the World Para Triathlon Circuit on Saturday 6th August, with six medal events, for men and women, across the various para categories. 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea headlines a week-long festival of para sport events including a first-ever international para triathlon conference. Race action in the World Triathlon Para Series Swansea starts at 1pm local time on the southern side of the Prince of Wales Dock. It’s a deep water start and para triathletes swim one lap of the 750m course. The para athletes will cycle from transition on the out-and-back section along the seafront promenade, before completing four laps of the city centre and returning to transition. The 20km course is largely flat but contains a number of technical sections that will test the athletes on Saturday.

In the men’s PTWC category Florian Brungraber of Austria who claimed gold in the 2022 World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon is the favourite and will be up against the likes of Italy’s Giovanni Achenza who secured bronze in the recent World Triathlon Para Series Montreal and Frenchman Ahmed Andaloussi, bronze medallist in 2022 Besancon.

World para triathlon champion Lauren Parker of Australia and world para triathlon champion is the top-ranked athlete in the women’s PTWC field after a brilliant gold medal finish in the 2022 World Triathlon Para Series in Montreal. The rivalry will be fierce in Swansea between Parker and USAs Kendall Gretsch, three-time PTWC world champion, and Paralympic gold medallist in Tokyo in a dramatic sprint finish with the Australian Paralympian.

In the men’s PTS2 category it will be hard to beat Frenchman Jules Ribstein, gold medallist in the 2022 World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon and Spain’s Lionel Morales who won gold in Montreal.

USAs Hailey Danz, silver medallist in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and gold medallist at the more recent 2022 World Triathlon Para Series in Montreal, is the favourite for the win in the women’s PTS2 category.

Germany’s Elke Van Engelen is the top-ranked woman in the PTS4 category and the competition will be fierce between USA’s Kendra Herber and Spain’s Andrea Miguelez Ranz. Engelen earned bronze in the 2022 World Triathlon Para Series race and will be looking to add another para triathlon medal to her collection. The German para triathlete looked comfortable and strong out on course during Friday’s familiarisations.

Spain’s Daniel Molina leads the rankings in the men’s PTS3 category and will be challenged in Swansea by Nico Van Der Burgt who arrives in Swansea in strong form and ready to do battle.

In the women’s PTS3 category Australia’s Anu Francis will be looking to repeat her 2022 gold medal performance in Oceania Triathlon Para Championships Stockton.

Paralympic champion Alexis Hanquinquant is on the hunt to continue his winning streak on the World Triathlon Para Series circuit in Swansea. The Frenchman won in the 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Yokohama, the World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon and is the one to watch in the men’s PTS4 race. This field has striking talent with the likes of Japan’s Hideki Uda, Australia’s Jeremy Peacock and Frenchman Pierre-Antoine Baele who all have what it takes to race for the World Para Series podium in Swansea.

Brasil’s Ronan Cordeiro was fifth place in 2022 World Triathlon Para Cup A Coruna and also in 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Montreal and has his focus fixed on making the podium in Swansea in the men’s PTS5 category. The Brazilian para triathlete will have Canada’s Stefan Daniel and Great Britain’s George Peasgood chasing him down for the top step on the podium in this category. Fellow compatriot Carlos Rafael Viana will also be one to watch in this field.

In the women’s PTS5 category it’s hard to look past USAs Paralympic champion Grace Norman for the win. Norman has been unbeatable on the circuit in 2022 and will be looking to continue her success. It’s expected that there will be a fantastic battle on course with Great Britain’s Claire Cashmore wanting to dominate in front of a local crowd in Swansea.

Dave Ellis is currently ranked number one in the men’s PTVI category and it will be his mission to cross the line in the first position at the World Triathlon Para Series in Swansea. After an incredible Commonwealth Games campaign to secure the gold medal in his category, Ellis will be hard to beat.

Great Britain’s Katie Crowhurst put together a dream major Games debut, passing Jessica Tuomela (CAN) to take the tape at the Commonwealth Games Para Triathlon event in Birmingham. Crowhurst is ready to race all over again at this weekend’s World Triathlon Para Series Swansea and alongside fellow rival Canada’s Jessica Tuomela. Tuomela arrives in exceptional form, after claiming Commonwealth Games bronze in the women’s PTVI category. Annouck Curzillat of France, bronze medallist in the 2022 World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon will have the focus of her and her guide set, to keep Crowhurst and Tuomela within reach, with the aim to medal in Swansea.

Review the 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea start lists and follow the action, live and on-demand, on Saturday 6th August from 1pm local time over on TriathlonLIVE.tv.