Dear Athletes,
Today’s email is from the World Triathlon Development Team – RACE PREVIEWS.
This series of emails is designed to allow you to develop your race course analysis skills to enable you to race better. As athletes you all know that there is only so much training volume you can take on. The human body has a limit on volumes and intensity loads.
What is unlimited is the skill and development an athlete can take into a race that allows them to race a course better and faster. This starts with specific preparation and training with the knowledge of the race course, and is further enhanced with facts around the expected race day conditions.
As is always the case, predictions can only be made on past races, previous results and current race site information. World Triathlon Development have attempted to use the most recent information and data available.
Today we are looking at the 2022 World Triathlon Cup Valencia on 3 September 2022.
Details -
- Valencia World Triathlon Cup, Spain
- Sprint format
- 750m 1 lap swim - 20 km 4 lap bike - 5km 2 lap run.
- Weather - should be warm. Previous races have been wet with a wetsuit swim, but these were not in September, so the weather was colder.
- Challenge - The most challenging aspect is the most likely to be the pace of the race. With the course predominantly flat, it is usually raced well fast and at a high intensity.
Overview
The swim is a dive start and it is important you don’t hesitate on the gun. The races are afternoon races, so light goggles may be better with the sun setting and the lower light. Navigation is simple with no swell in the flat harbour water, and the shortest line to the first buoy just over 300m out is to the right of the start line facing the water.
The swim exit is difficult as athletes must pull themselves onto the ramp. This should be practiced in the course fam, in the days prior to the race.
Out of T1 there are some fairly tight chicanes taking the riders out onto the road, which should be practiced pre-race.
The bike course is flat, with corners you can pedal through, although it does tighten up as you approach the end of each lap and T2. There is one 180 degree turn at the far end of the course, also in the area riders are most likely to experience wind as it is the most exposed area of the bike course. Stay to the right on approach to T2.
The run out of T2 negotiates the same chicanes as the bike which must be run point to point on the way out and on the return to ensure the shortest course is run. The run is where the race is won, so be prepared for a fast run.
Please note the final course details are published on triathlon.org HERE and will be presented at the Athlete briefing.
View the video HERE -
I look forward to watching you race on TriathlonLIVE!
Emma Carney (AUS)
