Event: World Triathlon Championship Finals – Sprint
Date: 17th October 2024

Wow, what a few days in Torremolinos for the World Triathlon Sprint Age Group race! This was my second year of racing in GB Age Group events.

So I first started to take note of event communications once a significant number of competitors had booked their accommodation and the race venue was subsequently changed from Malaga to Torremolinos – this didn’t present the best start to the event. Some competitors managed to move bookings while others didn’t or couldn’t. A little bit more thought and planning was required for some to get between the event village, pre-race briefings and obviously the race itself!

I was late in booking my accommodation as I wasn’t too sure I was going to race. I was given a hotel recommendation which turned out to be very close to transition and, by chance, where the GB and USA Elite teams were staying. I did see Alex Yee tucking into his breakfast and Beth Potter head out for a run.

The weather in the couple of days leading up to the race was wet! There were plenty of competitors trying to keep dry while registering and a few who had umbrellas to huddle under. The rain fell heavily on Wednesday morning with full drains overflowing into the sea. The races were due to start on Thursday morning. I decided not to swim in the sea on Wednesday for fear of getting ill. However, some did venture in later in the day and I waded in to check how quickly the shelf dropped so I knew what to expect for my race on Thursday afternoon.

During our race briefing, we were made aware of a large puddle on the bike course which needed to be handled with care! Needless to say, quite a few went to check said puddle after the briefing. Fortunately, no further rain fell so it had dried out in time.

Race day arrived and the sun was shining. We were able to rack bikes the morning of the race. My race started just before 4pm. Having watched a few earlier waves go, the wind had picked up, the sea was very choppy with a slight current, and the distance looked more than 750m. We were held in the holding pen for longer than we were expecting – nerves running high and sweating in wetsuits all round! I lined up on the beach ready for the horn and then the sprint into the water with all my age group.

The swim was tough! At some points the waves were so big you couldn’t see the shore and it made sighting hard work. Competitors were definitely struggling with this, with some clocking a 1km swim. There was a 30 minute cut off which some weaker swimmers and older age groupers didn’t meet. Allowances weren’t made for the conditions.

T1 involved a run up the beach, up a ramp, over a bridge and down the ramp into the transition to find your bike somewhere near the many palm trees! The bridge was required as the run route was below it on the coast road next to the beach.

The 20km bike course was two laps and fairly technical with some inclines, two dead turns and road ramps on and off a main road. There was a headwind on the inclines. I managed to get into a pack with Mexicans, Canadians, a USA and GB lady. The Mexicans were very vocal. I actually quite enjoyed this bit!

T2 was another case of trying to get through it as quickly as possible while navigating bikes and competitors and also spotting your rack/trainers.

On to the 5km run. It felt hot – something like 23/24 degrees. Chucked some water over myself at an aid station and got through it. There were many supporters all along the run course which made for a great atmosphere.

A sense of relief once I’d crossed the finish line and not being entirely sure of where I’d placed.

I came 4th out of 55 in my age group which I was pleased with, especially being at the oldest end of my age group and finishing 24th last year (my first year of taking part in GB age group). My target was to place better than last year which I had achieved!

Sadly not long after I’d finished my race I‘d heard that tragically there were two fatalities in the men’s race earlier. A Mexican man had died in the swim and a GB man on the run. This was devastating news for all of us to hear and our thoughts are with their families and friends.

Other VTC competitors I saw there were Sam Holloway, sprinting out of T2 onto the run course, and Andy Hoseason – we had a nice chat while standing under a shop awning while the rain fell! Congratulations to Sam, Andy and Lucy!

Next year’s World Championships are in Wollongong, Australia. I’m not planning on going that far yet…

Hope you’ve all had a great triathlon season – enjoyed it and achieved whatever goals you set yourselves 😊