Beth Potter and Alex Yee were crowned the first ever esports World Triathlon champions during a weekend where there were multiple British successes including race wins and world titles.
Arena Games Triathlon Finals Singapore powered by Zwift (6-7 May)
Potter and Yee both made history at the Arena Games Triathlon Finals Singapore powered by Zwift where they earned the honour of claiming the esports world triathlon championship title.
They both finished second in their respective finals in the heat, humidity and rain of Singapore, where double points were on offer in the format that blends real life and virtual racing across swim, bike, run.
Potter’s second place finish behind Zsanett Bragmayer of Hungary in Singapore, combined with her win and maximum points from last month’s opening event in Munch, saw her secure the overall title.
Georgia Taylor-Brown joined Potter on the podium, finishing third in the final and also in the championship standings. Sian Rainsley was fourth on the day and sixth overall, while Jess Learmonth withdrew when leading on the stage one run.
In the men’s event, Yee arrived in Singapore knowing he would need to finish ahead of both Germany’s Justus Nieschlag and France’s Aurelien Raphael if he were to take the world title.
The race win went to Hayden Wilde of New Zealand, but Yee finished second ahead of the chasing Nieschlag to ensure there were two British triathletes on the top step of the podiums.
Dan Dixon was fourth in his first experience of Arena Games Triathlon, finishing eighth in the championship standings, one place ahead of Gordon Benson, who just missed out on a place in the final in the repechage, as did Harry Leleu. Cameron Main was eighth in the repechage on his Arena Games Triathlon Series debut.
IRONMAN World Championships (7 May)
Katrina Matthews secured silver at the delayed 2021 IRONMAN World Championships where four British women finished in the top-eight of the women’s pro race in St. George, Utah, USA.
Matthews quickly established herself in the top-two of the race on the bike, along with new world champion Daniel Ryf of Switzerland. They would remain the top-two until the end of the race with Ryf finishing over eight minutes ahead of Matthews, who held off Germany’s defending champion Anne Haug to claim world silver in only her fifth full distance event in a time of 08:43:49.
Ruth Astle finished fifth at her first IRONMAN World Championships as a pro athlete, having been the first overall age group athlete in 2019, in a time of 09:00:09. Laura Siddall (09:08:34) was seventh with Fenella Langridge next to cross the line in eighth in 09:09:40.
Tokyo 2020 guide Nikki Bartlett was 13th, completing the course in 09:30:33.
With double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee withdrawing from the event on the eve of the championships due to illness, David McNamee was Great Britain’s sole entrant in the men’s pro race, finishing ninth in a time of 08:04:36.
World Triathlon Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon Championships Viborg (7 May)
The Great Britain Age-Group Team won 15 medals including five golds at the World Triathlon Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon Championships in Viborg, Germany.
Ben Goodfellow (male 25-29) and Mick Anglim (male 75-79) both added the world title to the European golds they won last month as five British athletes became world champion in their age group.
Rosie Davies added to her medal haul with gold in the female 30-34 age group, while Richard Miles won gold on his GB Age-Group Team debut. Fiona Carter led home a British one-two-three in the female 50-54 age group as the GB Age-Group Team ended the championship with five gold, six silver and four bronze medals.
In the elite men’s race, Matthew Nelson was the highest-ranked British athlete in eighth, with Liam Lloyd 11th and Ben Price 21st.
Emma Pallant-Browne secured her second win in six days with victory at IRONMAN 70.3 Alcudia-Mallorca following-up her victory at Challenge Riccione over the same distance of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run.
Pallant-Browne passed race leader Nicola Spiring of Switzerland on the second of the three run laps, before extending her advantage to over two minutes by the time she took the tape in 04:25:36. Tara Grosvenor crossed the line in 13th.
In the men’s pro race, James Teagle was the first British man to finish as he crossed the line in fifth, with three British athletes in the top-10 and six in the top-20. George Goodwin finished a minute behind Teagle in seventh, two places ahead of Luke Pollard, while Harry Palmer was 17th, Will Munday 19th and Brett Halliwell 20th.
James Scott-Farrington finished the race 25th with Andrew Horsfall-Turner, who was the first to exit the swim, in 31st. Thomas Davis recorded a DNF after a puncture on the bike.
