The paratriathlon classification system has been extended this season from five to six categories for both men and women, along with a number of notable changes within these categories.
Overview of changes:
| Previous name | New name | Information | British athletes racing in Yokohama |
|---|---|---|---|
| PT1 | PTHC | Handcyclists and racechair users. Start times factored with PTHC1 (most impaired) athletes starting ahead of PTHC2. First to cross the finishing line in overall PTHC category is the winner. | Joe Townsend, Lizzie Tench, Jade Jones |
| PT2 | PTS2 |
Ambulant athletes with the most severe impairments. Athlete cycles on conventional bike and runs with or without the use of an approved prosthesis and/or supportive devices. |
Andy Lewis |
| PT3 | PTS3 |
Less severe impairments than PTS2. Athlete cycles on conventional bike and runs with or without the use of an approved prosthesis and/or supportive devices. |
Ryan Taylor |
| PT4 | PTS4 |
Less severe impairments. Athlete cycles on conventional bike and runs with or without the use of an approved prosthesis and/or supportive devices. |
No British athletes racing. |
| NEW | PTS5 |
Minimal impairments Athlete cycles on conventional bike and runs with or without the use of an approved prosthesis and/or supportive devices. |
George Peasgood |
| PT5 | PTVI | Visually impaired (B2 or B3) or blind (B1). Start times factored with blind athletes starting ahead of those with some vision (less than 10 percent). First to cross the finishing line in overall PTVI category is the winner. | Alison Patrick, Melissa Reid, Dave Ellis |
*Individual athlete classifications may change during the season
British athletes to look out for
PTHC:
The PTHC category for men and women will be part of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next April. Qualification for Home Nations teams will be a main target for many athletes in this category.
PTHC men competed in Rio, but women did not. However, the competitiveness of this category has already stepped up this season with track athletics star Jade Jones competing this weekend.
Following a British Triathlon Talent ID day in February Jade has been enjoying triathlon alongside breaking records on the athletics track:
“Swimming was the discipline I've found the most difficult.. To help my training in the race chair, over the last 8 years I've used the handbike over the off season to get in miles, however swimming was something completely new.”
“Commonwealth Games is definitely something that I'm aiming for. I'm still fairly new to the sport and so I will take everything as it comes but it's definitely something that I'd like to do. I would love to compete in the triathlon alongside the wheelchair races.”
Joe Townsend, Britain’s Rio Paralympian, has been working hard through the winter on the handbike as he prepares to take on the Ride Across America in June as part of the Help for Heroes team. His gains in strength were evident in a dominant performance in winning the British Paraduathlon Championships last month.
PTS2:
Paralympic Champion Andy Lewis is primarily based from home in Gloucestershire now so that he can spend time with his young family.
“Winter training this year has been the best yet. I’ve started to understand myself more now as an athlete. I feel very confident now in my swimming, particularly open water swimming. The coaches have told me to enjoy this year more than anything.”
“Winning the three major titles last year puts a target on my back, which makes me want to train harder to remain ahead of the game.”
PTS4
The PTS4 category will include single leg below knee amputees who formerly raced in the PT4 category, alongside athletes with minimal arm impairments. Although not racing this weekend, former solider Steve Crowley will be an athlete to watch. Steve is a leg amputee and has had a strong winter of training, evident in a much improved performance in winning the British Paraduathlon.
PTS5:
George Peasgood competes in this category this weekend having been moved from PT4, the category he contested in Rio.
Not racing this weekend, Paralympic silver medalist, Lauren Steadman, moves to the PTS5 category along with the reigning PT4 Paralympic Champion, Grace Norman from the USA.
Lauren’s focus this year is to complete her Masters Degree in Business at the University of Portsmouth, but she will be want to retain her title as European Champion in Kitzbuhel in June and race in the ITU World Championships in Rotterdam if possible.
PTVI:
Paralympic silver medalist, Alison Patrick has got engaged and moved in with her fiancé in Loughborough since Rio, as well as winning silver and bronze medals at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in March.
“It (track cycling) has helped my confidence on the bike and my ability to maintain power at a higher cadence. This season is a chance to experiment a little with training and guides to help form future plans. It would be great to do well at Europeans and Worlds but my goals are definitely more process orientated this season.”
Visually impaired men were unable to compete in Rio, but as the build up towards Tokyo 2020 begins, 2013 World Champion, Dave Ellis returns to paratriathlon having focused on running for the past couple of years. He set a 4:00:3 1500m time last year.
“I’m taking each race as it comes really, due to my lack of ranking points, getting to Europeans & Worlds might need an invite, so hopefully I can put in a good performance in Yokohama, and this might help in getting invites to future races.”
