2022 World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki - Post Race Analysis
Dear Athletes,
Today we look through the Miyazaki World Cup raced last weekend in Japan. Looking over results is an important way to learn more about race IQ and understanding how to develop racing skills.
2022 World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki
Swim - 1 lap 750m ocean swim, beach start
Bike - 4 lap 20km bike, windy, flat
Run - 2 lap 5km, windy/flat
Water temperature: 21.8ºC. Air temperature 17.4ºC. Wetsuits not allowed
The races unfolded as follows -
Men
Swim was typical of a Miyazaki swim. The swell made for messy water and the return to the beach proved to be the deciding factor stringing out the men’s field.
A small group of 4 were caught early on the bike, making a lead group of around 12 for the remainder of the race (give or take a couple who dropped off in the later stages). The group made 20sec at the completion of lap 1, which moved out to 40sec and was back at 30sec at the end of lap 3. The chase pack was bunched and showed no urgency or organisation to pull in the lead group, so remained lagging throughout the bike. With just under 40sec into T2, this sloppiness proved costly to all involved. The most challenging factor of the bike was the wind. There was also a crash into a barrier costing an athlete a DNF.
Hojo (JPN) took the run out of T2 fast, making a small 2-3 sec break on the chase pack of 6. Between the 1-2km marker he dragged himself out a few more seconds, but the chase pack of now 4 (with stragglers) remained looming. With a lap completed, Hojo was caught and the lead group of 5 was formed.
Pozzatti (ITA) and Gonzalez (ESP) took control of the race as they made their way towards the 3km mark. Running shoulder to shoulder they worked to create a lead of 4-5 sec which gradually grew.
Pozzatti always looked the winner, but Gonzalez constantly kept him under pressure. With the wind affecting the run along the foreshore, Batista (POR) clawed his way back onto the lead two to form a group of 3 out the front. Meanwhile Willis (GBR) was running strongly in 4th and made his way onto the lead group of 3. Hojo was holding onto 5th.
As they turned off the foreshore, Pazzatti made a break and started his clear run to the blue carpet and first place, leaving the 3 behind – Gonzalez, Baptista and Willis – to fight out for the minor placings.
Women
The women’s race was similar to the men’s, although the tough swim back into the shore saw a small lead pack break away from the main field. Mathias (GBR) lead out of the water and exited T1 with two others - Coninx (FRA) and Zane (ITA). They quickly established a short break on the bike that was almost as quickly shut down. A large lead bike group formed on the flat course with the only real challenge being the wind.
Mathias led onto the run and was quickly closed down by Peterson (DEN) who then gradually ran away from all the chasers. Mathias was dropped by Zane and Coninx with the top three looking secure for Pedersen, Zane and Coninx. Mathias then put in a storming finish to beat Coninx by 2 seconds and fail by 1 second to beat Zane for silver.
Summary
As has been the case for the season, the fastest run will win the race. Those who exit T2 too fast are generally caught by those who know their pace and are able to run their controlled race. Miyazaki showed there are a lot of athletes who need to develop their skills in ocean swimming, and understanding the effect that swells, currents, chop and broken waves have on their stroke and swim technique. The bike course was not used in either the men’s or women’s race to create attacks. This could have been done using the wind and turns, but athletes were content to remain in the packs that naturally formed with those athletes around them. Transitions were important in both races, and close between the genders for the fastest times. Those athletes losing time in transitions were disadvantaged as always and clearly need to work on these skills.
The most aggressive athletes were the most successful, and fierce determination won the races.
Useful splits of the day can be found here –
For full results visit:
Results: Elite Men | 2022 World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki • World Triathlon
Results: Elite Women | 2022 World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki • World Triathlon
Emma Carney (AUS)
World Triathlon Development
