In the last several years, Great Britain has dominated paratriathlon. After taking a large chunck of the medals here in London at the 2013 Paratriathlon World Championships, the London World Paratriathlon Event will serve as a homecoming of sorts for the British team. But taking home top honours won’t be without work with a solid lineup of international paratriathletes primed to compete in Hyde Park on Saturday.
Faye McClelland (GBR) lines up as one of the most accomplished paratriathletes to hit the sport. Last year in London she collected her fourth World Championship title. She has never lost an ITU paratriathlon event and we don’t expect that trend will change this weekend. McClelland’s top competition comes from compatriot Lauren Steadman, who finished a close second to the World Champ in Yokohama two weeks ago.
Brits Matt Emmerson and Jane Egan also won world titles in London last year and will return to the scene of their golden moments for another shot at glory, although Emmerson will do so in a new category.
This year sees the two-time TRI-5 World Champ competing in PT4 alongside Yannick Bourseaux (FRA). It’s the Frenchman to keep an eye on, having finishes on the podium in the last two Paratriathlon World Events, and especially without rival Martin Schulz (GER) slated to toe the line. But don’t count out the young up and coming Spanish Jairo Ruiz Lopez to make waves in the category.
Michele Ferrarin (ITA) has continued to fair well after claiming the men’s World TRI-3 title last year. He collected a win in Yokohama earlier this month in the PT2 category, so expect the Italian and Frenchman Geoffrey Wersy to push each other in the PT2 division. Despite having raced less than a handful of times, Geer Schipper is making a name for himself after winning the PT1 division in Bescanon last weekend.
The paratriathlon races will go off in waves beginning at 8am local time on Saturday.