The Road to Paris continues for Paralympic hopefuls, as they gear up to take on the 2024 World Triathlon Para Series opener in Devonport, Australia, on Friday 15th March. With only ten races left before the Paralympic Qualification Period ends on July 1st, top para triathletes from around the globe arrive in Tasmania, vying for crucial ranking points. The stakes are high with the top para triathletes clinching quota spots for their nations.
RACING ON HOME SOIL
Fresh off their wins in the recent Oceania Triathlon Para Championships in Stockton and ready to race on home soil again, Nic Beveridge (PTWC), Sam Harding (PTVI), Thomas Goodman (PTS2), Jeremy Peacock (PTS4), Jack Howell (PTS5), Anu Francis (PTS2), Grace Brimelow (PTS4), and Maggie Sandles (PTVI) are looking to continue their strong starts to the season. Glen Jarvis (PTS2), David Bryant (PTS5), Justin Godfrey (PTS3), Liam Twomey (PTS4), Sally Pilbeam (PTS4) and Caroline Baird (PTVI) round out the impressive line-up of Aussies. Australian athletes can secure automatic nominations for those ranking within the top five in their respective categories.
PREVIEW THE RACES
PTS5
With newfound confidence, Jack Howell (PTS5) will take on the World Triathlon Para Series opener following his first Continental-level triumph in Stockton – a win that propelled him up three spots to sixth in the Paralympic Qualification rankings.
Gwladys Lemoussu (FRA) earned the victory in the World Triathlon Para Cup Taranto to cap her 2023 season and will be hunting the top step in the World Triathlon Para Series opener in Devonport this weekend.
PTVI
In the men’s PTVI category, Spain’s Jose Luis García Serrano will be the main contender as he starts his season in Australia. Serrano earned gold in the 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Malaga which closed his strong 2023 season.
USA’s McClain Hermes will headline the women’s PTVI category and has arrived into Australia in brilliant form after securing the silver medal in the 2024 Americas Paratriathlon Championships Miami last weekend.
PTS4
The battles will be fierce in the men’s PTS4 category with Australia’s Jeremy Peacock and USA’s Carson Clough going head to head in a stacked field. Australia’s Liam Twomey will also prove a threat in the race.
Spain’s Camille Seneclauze and Australia’s Grace Brimelow are the race favourites in the women’s PTS4 category. Brimelow secured gold in the 2024 Oceania Triathlon Para Championships Stockton and is motivated towards the Paris 2024 Paralympics start line.
PTS3
Nico Van Der Burgt of the Netherlands had a tremendous 2023 season earning bronze in the 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Paris, the national title in the 2023 NED Paratriathlon National Championships, fourth place in the 2023 World Triathlon Para Championships Pontevedra and the silver medal in the 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Malaga. Van Der Burgt is the main medal prospect in the men’s PT23 category and will be challenged by the likes of Australia’s Justin Godfrey and Frenchman Michael Herter.
Ireland’s Cassie Cava secured gold in the 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Malaga and silver in the 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Taranto and will be vying for the top of the women’s PTS3 podium in Devonport.
PTS2
Australia’s Anu Francis and USA’s Allysa Seely are marked as medal favourites in the women’s PTS2 category. Francis secured the title in the 2024 Oceania Triathlon Para Championships Stockton.
Spain’s Lionel Morales is the favourite in the men’s PTS2 category after earning gold in the 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Malaga and fourth place in the 2023 World Triathlon Para Championships Pontevedra.
PTWC
Australia’s Nic Beveridge and Italy’s Giovanni Achenza are no strangers to the race course and will be fixed on a heated battle in the men’s PTWC field on Friday, with valuable points for the taking and qualification for Paris 2024 in sight. Beveridge is currently number two in the World Triathlon Paralympic Qualification Ranking while Achenza is currently fourth.
With Australia’s Paralympian and world champion Lauren Parker not in this week’s race, Spain’s Eva Maria Moral Pedrero is the gold medal prospect in the women’s PTWC field.
Devonport Triathlon will run from Friday, March 15th through Sunday, March 17th, 2024, headlined by the World Triathlon Para Series. Additionally, the weekend in Devonport will feature the Oceania Triathlon Sprint Championships, Oceania Triathlon Mixed Relay Championship, Australian Elite Sprint Championships, and age group events.
WATCH WTPS DEVONPORT
Friday, March 15 – from 1:30 pm AEST
TriathlonLive.TV
Review full start lists
To view the World Triathlon Paralympic Games Qualification Rankings, click here.
To view the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games Nomination Criteria, click here.