After a bumper year for Para triathlon, with outstanding racing coming at the Paralympic Games, the various Continental Championships and across the World Para Series, the luminaries of the sport will summon one final push this week. The world titles across six categories for both men and women will be on the line. Furthermore, for some a unique triple of Paralympic gold, continental gold and perhaps world gold will be within reach.
A single lap of 750m in the sea will kick things off, with a 19.2km bike consisting of four laps to follow. Two laps along the beachfront for the final 5km run then complete the race. The action on Friday 18th October starts at 10:00 (CEST) and you can catch it all on TriathlonLive.
PTWC
An icon of Para triathlon, Jetze Plat H2 (NED) will look to add the world title to the gold medal he won in imperious fashion in Paris. Moreover, he will arrive in Torremolinos with a point to prove of sorts. He was denied the world title last year in Pontevedra and so will look to reclaim a title he has won on six previous occasions. Florian Brungraber H2 (AUT) will lead to charge against Plat. He earned the silver medal in Paris and at the recent European Championships in Vichy. In the absence of Geert Schipper H2, the 2022 world champion and current European champion, Louis Noel H2 (FRA) may be one to rise to the moment.
In the women’s race, the indomitable Lauren Parker H1 (AUS) will look to conclude a fantastic season with another gold medal. She triumphed at the Paralympic Games after winning the Oceania title earlier in the season. As such, she is one of the select athletes with a chance at the triple this year. Kendall Gretsch H2 (USA) and Leanne Taylor H1 (CAN) will put up stiff resistance. However, 2024 has without question been Parker’s year.
PTVI
Having won the past three men’s world titles in the PTVI category, Dave Ellis B3 (GBR) goes again. He was brilliant on his way to victory in both Paris and Vichy; like Parker, he thus has a great chance at completing the triple in 2024. The French duo of Thibaut Rigaudeau B3 and Antoine Perel B1 are fresh off medals at a home Paralympic Games and will likely provide Ellis with his most significant obstacles on the path to gold. With form and experience on his side, though, the British star will be the favourite.
Susana Rodriguez B1 (ESP) will be another hunting the triple after her gold medal-winning exploits in Paris and Vichy. The Spanish athlete has been at the forefront of the PTVI class for years, although in recent times she has faced increasing opposition. One such rival is Francesca Tarantello B3 (ITA), the Paralympic silver medallist and the 2022 world champion. Tarantello is a young and rapidly improving prospect. Having beaten Rodriguez before, she will trust her ability to do so once more. Anja Renner B3 (GER), the bronze medallist in Paris, will likewise ensure that Rodriguez does not have things all her own way.
PTS2
If we are to clutch at straws, there is a case to be made against the world title odds of Jules Ribstein (FRA). The Paralympic and European champion has been in fine form lately, however both of his recent championship wins came on home French soil. Can he do it again on foreign turf in Torremolinos? Realistically, yes. With his fellow Paralympic medallists Mohamed Lahna or Mark Barr opting against racing, Ribstein’s path to the world title has opened up. Still, he will have to pass rivals such as Lionel Morales (ESP), who races with home advantage, and Maurits Morsink (NED).
In the women’s race, Allysa Seely (USA) enters as the favourite after her bronze medal in Paris. Without Hailey Danz or Veronica Yoko Plebani, Seely is the only member of the Paralympic podium set to start in Torremolinos. Anu Francis (AUS) will likely present her primary threat to the gold medal this week.
PTS3
Daniel Molina (ESP) will attempt to cap a marvellous season with a world title before his compatriots. He struck gold in both Paris and Vichy and has been the cream of the PTS3 crop. However, his rising rival, Max Gelhaar (GER), will be a clear danger as he looks to snatch away the gold medal.
Meanwhile, Elise Marc (FRA) will look to make it three in a row when it comes to world championship gold medals. She triumphed in both 2022 and 2023 and has been a dominant force in the women’s PTS3 class. Anna Plotnikova (AIN) will push to dethrone the French athlete, but it will take something special to beat Marc.
PTS4
The man that may just be the best Para triathlete in the world, Alexis Hanquinquant (FRA) is pursuing world title number six in Torremolinos. The French athlete was ridiculously good in Paris as he proved to be one of the faces of the Games. He then showed no signs of any Paralympic hangover by dazzling again at the European Championships in Vichy. Given he last lost an individual international race roughly 200 years ago (or in August 2019 to be more exact), it would be a real upset for him to lose. On the other hand, Carson Clough (USA) produced a superb performance to take the silver medal in Paris while Nil Riudavets Victory (ESP) will look to improve upon his bronze medal from the Games. With Jeremy Peacock (AUS) and Pierre-Antoine Baele (FRA) also in the mix, the talent is there to dethrone Hanquinquant. However, it is certainly easier said than done.
Like Hanquinqant, Megan Richter (GBR) will look to put the finishing touches on her masterpiece of a season. The British athlete also struck gold in Paris and Vichy and will be hunting the triple. With key rivals like Kelly Elmlinger and Hannah Moore out of the event, she should have a clear run to the gold medal. Home favourite Marta Francés Gómez (ESP) and Camille Seneclauze (FRA) could yet throw a spanner in the works, though, and both are more than capable of exploiting any misstep by Richter.
PTS5
In a battle of the Paralympic champion, Chris Hammer (USA), the gold medallist in Paris, takes on Martin Schulz (GER), the victor from Tokyo. Schulz also took the silver medal in Paris. Paralympic bronze medallist Ronan Cordeiro will not be starting but that does not completely dim the star power in the men’s field. The 2022 world champion and 2024 Americas champion Stefan Daniel (CAN) could blow the field away on his day while Bence Mocsari (HUN) races after a thrilling victory over Filipe Marques (POR) at the European Championships. Medal contenders could therefore come from anywhere in this race.
The women’s race will similarly be a clash between the Tokyo and Paris Paralympic champions as Lauren Steadman (GBR) and Grace Norman (USA) go head-to-head once more. Norman was a supreme force across the Paris Paralympic cycle and is the defending champion. Having won the Americas title back in March, she is also hunting the triple. Steadman took bronze in Paris behind Claire Cashmore (GBR) but both Brits have what it takes to take down Norman if things go their way. Notably, Steadman will also be buoyed by her recent win at the European Championships.
You can find all the start lists for the World Triathlon Para Championships here.
