U23 World Championships, Abu Dhabi – Post Race analysis
Dear Athletes,
There is nothing better than learning from the best! The Men's and Women's U23 World Championship races in Abu Dhabi showcased the future stars of World Triathlon.
The races were tough, the winners provided a masterclass on how to win a World Title using world class race skills and tactics.
Below is a brief analysis, but if you can also watch the footage on TriathlonLIVE TV.
The Course
- 2 lap swim
- 8 lap bike
- 4 lap run
U23 Men
Water temperature 28.9ºC, air temperature 25.1ºC. Wetsuits not allowed.
Crociani (ITA) led a large front group out of the water with a slight 3 sec lead over pre race favourite Riddle (RSA).
There was not much splitting the main group, with only 10 seconds separating the top 20 out of the water.
It was obvious a fast T1 was required, particularly with the technical turns out of T1.
Connor Bentley (GBR) was first onto the bike after the fastest T1 of the field. He made up 9 places just by executing a fast T1 (total time of 62 seconds compared to leader out of the water Crociani 70sec). 26 athletes managed to form the initial front group starting the first of their 8 laps of the bike.
Riddle was the first to attempt a break, taking Bentley (GBR) with him. The two held a 5 second gap, working well together, however a very large pack of 20 was looming. The question was had they gone too early, or were they going to stay away as the field entered the more technical areas of the course. The gap did extend as they rode along the waterfront for the first time – now at 7sec.
At the completion of lap 1, the lead 2 athletes had a 10 second break. The gap was reduced to 4sec and then quickly closed down as the athletes were caught along the waterfront section. Ironically it was a GBR athlete Reilly leading the chase – showing it was every man for himself out on the circuit.
The large group of now over 20 bunched over the road at the end of lap 2, showing the pace had dropped. The chasing group was only 34sec behind so the front group were in danger of being caught if they let the pace slow too much.
Towards the end of lap 3, Riddle attempted another break, taking Stapley (TRI), but it was quickly shut down. The aggression at the front did start stringing out the large pack as the athletes sitting on the back were left reacting late.
Various small attacks were made, but none established a substantial break. As the front group continued to slow, the lead group became 38 with 2 laps to go. It became clear the run was going to be the deciding factor.
Bentley was the first off the bike into T2 and exited with fellow countryman Reilly. They ran together around 2 sec ahead of the large strung out chasing group as they made their way onto the 4 lap ‘fast, flat’ run. Fluri (SUI) and Stapley (WT) clawed their way back onto the group of two out the front and the lead became 4. The field behind, although stringing out, was within striking distance. As Kiss (HUN) and Diener (GER) joined the lead 4, and the group suddenly became 11 within 2sec of each other in the front.
Halfway through the run, Bentley and Reilly started to control the front again. At the end of lap 3 of the run it was back to a group of 4 with Kiss and Diener hanging on. Not for long though and it was back to the 2 GBR athletes.
Just prior to halfway on the final lap it was Bentley who made the push for home. Looking smooth, he opened up a gap that absolutely stamped his authority on the field.
Kiss came home strongly to finish in second, 9 sec behind Bentley with Reilly in 3rd, giving GBR two in the top 3.
U23 Women
Water temperature 27.9ºC. Air temperature 21.2ºC. Wetsuits not allowed
Kate Waugh went into the race ranked one, and was the hot favourite.
Bianca Seregni (ITA) was the early swim leader, exiting lap 1 of 2 first. Kate Waugh was 4th at this stage, 15 sec behind.
At the completion of lap 2 and 1500m, Seregni was out of the water 22 seconds ahead of the second to exit Yang (CHI). Next out was a small group containing Waugh 36 sec down.
Out on the bike Seregni remained alone and off the front for lap 1. A chase group containing Waugh, Koch (GER) Fullagar (GBR) and Klamt (GER) had passed Yang and were now only 22 seconds down chasing hard. Just as lap 1 of the 8 lap bike was completed, the chasing group had closed the gap down to only 13 seconds. The large chase bunch forming was 49 seconds down.
On lap 2 Kropko (HUN) had joined the chasing 4 who then caught Seregni and a strong group of 6 was formed at the front of the field.
On lap 6 Fullagar and Waugh attacked the group and quickly established a 3 sec break. Their attack was well timed, started from the back of the group, and with the use of the opposite side of the road it was a brilliant display of team riding attacks . There was a response from the group, but with the attack made just prior to the technical section, it was perfectly timed to slow any reactions from a larger group. By the completion of lap 6 the gap had grown to 18 seconds.
With 1 lap to go the two off the front were 44 seconds clear of the 4 chasing.
At T2 Waugh and Fullagar had just over a minute on the chase group of 4.
Out on the run, Waugh ran aggressively and took control of the race. Fullagar was losing time rapidly and Koch was the athlete making her move on the 2 out the front.
Koch powered her way past Fullagar, but it seemed the end of the 10km would come before Waugh tired enough for her to be caught. Fullagar meanwhile was caught by not only Koch, but Seregni and Klamt had also caught and passed her. She was now in 5th and over 70 seconds behind Waugh.
Waugh began to show some tiredness in the last lap of the run and Koch was now only 25 seconds behind. But it was Kate Waugh’s day, holding off Koch and winning by 25 seconds with Seregni third, 56 seconds down.
Summary
The aggressive and calculated athletes were successful. It seemed the athletes who were prepared mentally and were able to ‘suffer’ in the heat in the run were able to perform best.
Simply ‘saving legs’ on the bike did not pay off in either races and both winners backed a strong run with a strong bike – proving a tough aggressive bike will not ruin your run if you are fit and prepared properly.
Full Men's U23 Results can be found here
Full Women's U23 Results can be found here
Race Data
What an end to the season!
Many things to learn and training sessions to plan to make 2023 even better....!
Emma Carney (AUS)
