Bermuda played host to the penultimate race of the 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series. Alex Yee had the chance to reclaim the #1 spot and we saw to the return to short course racing for the Norwegian duo of Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt, as well as the return from injury for Vincent Luis.

Swim – Luis leads the way

Vincent Luis is back racing and doing what he does best, leading the swim. He was straight to the front of the pack and after the first lap he only had two athletes within 5 seconds, Mark Devay and training partner Vasco Vilaca. Then came the chasers in a big stream of athletes lead by Leon Pauger (+15s), this group included Kristian Blummenfelt (+25s), Yee (+27s), Jelle Geens (+31s) and Gustav Iden (+35s).

The leaders were caught on the second lap and 8 athletes exited the water within 10 seconds of each other, still led by Luis. Blummenfelt and Yee came out close together around 40 seconds back, they were closely followed by Lasse Luhrs and Antonio Serrat Seoane. Then a further 10 seconds back came Geens, Iden and Roberto Sanchez.

Bike – Breakaway sticks at the front

A lead pack was quick to establish on the first lap featuring 8 riders including Luis, Valaca and Jonas Schomburg. Over the first lap they extended their lead over the chasers. The chase pack included nearly all the rest of the field and the athletes came through transition after lap 1 in a big line of riders, 40 seconds back.

Over the next 3 laps the front group was trimmed to 7 athletes and they had extended their lead to over 50 seconds. Yee, Iden and Blummenfelt were driving the pace at the front of the chasers but were struggling to reel in the leading group.

Over the second half of the bike the front group continued to work well together to hold off the chasers. 7 athletes is a good number to have if everyone is willing to do the work. The chase pack remained too big for athletes to get into a good rhythm of taking turns on the front. The lead had dropped down to 37 seconds but the leaders re-established the 50 second gap by the time they were in T2.

Run – Luis runs to victory

Schomburg was the first out of T2 and was haring away as he so often does. He was gradually reeled in by Vilaca and Jumpei Furuya. At this point Luis seemed to be sitting back and building his way into the run.

Geens and Serrat Seoane broke away from the chase group early and through the first lap they reduced the lead to under 30 seconds. They were joined by Adrian Briffod and Sanchez was only a few seconds further back. Yee had missed this breakaway and sat a further 10 seconds back, joined by Blummenfelt and Iden.

Heading onto the second lap Luis made his move to the front. Schomburg tried to follow but Luis was able to establish a gap. Geens and Serrat Seoane began to catch the athletes who had been in the lead bike pack and moved into 2nd and 3rd by the end of the second lap, 16 seconds back from Luis. The surprise at this point was that Yee still sat 36 seconds back. He may have burnt his legs on the bike trying to close the gap to the front.

Serrat Seoane closed the gap to 10 seconds over the third lap and with Geens starting to fade it looked like he would be the only one who could pose a threat to take the win. Luis stayed in control and was able to hold off the Spaniard to take an emotional victory. Serrat Seoane took 2nd and his compatriot, Sanchez, came home in 3rd, dropping Geens to 4th. Yee and Blummenfelt were able to run through the field to take 5th and 6th. Not enough for Yee to reclaim the #1 ranking.

Results

Luis was at the front of the race from the gun. It was great to see him back in form and it will be interesting to see if a similar breakaway can stick in Abu Dhabi. The chasers will have the added firepower of Hayden Wilde to reel him in.

1. Vincent Luis – 1:49:37
2. Antonioa Serrat Seoane – 1:49:45
3. Roberto Sanchez – 1:49:54
4. Jelle Geens – 1:49:59
5. Alex Yee – 1:50:04

World Championship Series

1. Hayden Wilde – 3850
2. Alex Yee – 3732
3. Leo Bergere – 3493
4. Jelle Geens – 3314
5. Vincent Luis – 3098

Alex Yee missed his opportunity to gain the advantage over Hayden Wilde heading into Abu Dhabi. Now even beating Wilde won’t be enough to take the world title. If Yee wins he needs another athlete to come in between him and Wilde. This could be too much to ask.