Elite triathlon action is set to take place in Europe and across North America this weekend, with the likes of Vicky Holland, Joe Skipper and Ruth Astle all set to race.
2021 World Triathlon Cup Lisbon
Vicky Holland and Sian Rainsley line up for the women’s race in Portugal. Holland takes to the start line on the back of victory at Llanelli last weekend, crossing the line in 58:29.4. Holland’s last World Cup appearance saw her take home gold at the 2020 Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup.
Joining Holland in Lisbon, Rainsley will represent Great Britain following a strong performance at the 2021 Europe Triathlon Cup Caorle where she finished in 5th place, just 13 seconds off Emma Lombardi (FRA) in 3rd.
Three British men will take to the start line in Portugal. Tom Bishop joins the start list after recently racing at the 2021 World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama alongside Alex Yee and Jonathon Brownlee. His last World Cup performance was in 2020 where he achieved a top-fifteen finish at the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup.
He’s joined by Gordon Benson who enjoyed a victory at the Kazan ETU Sprint Triathlon European Championships in 2019, sharing the podium with fellow Brit, Sam Dickinson.
Finally, Grant Sheldon is also set to race. Sheldon has competed twice already this year, both in the Europe Triathlon Cup, first at Melilla and then at Caorle. He travels to Lisbon having raced in the Portuguese capital before, achieving a 10th place finish at the ETU Triathlon European Championships in 2016 and being part of the winning relay team at the same event.
IRONMAN North American Championship Tulsa
This weekend will also showcase some incredible IRONMAN athletes taking on the North American Championship at Tulsa, Oklahoma. The star-studded lineup includes Ruth Astle, Nikki Bartlett and Katrina Matthews for the women and Adam Bowden, David McNamee and Joe Skipper for the men.
Astle finished in 4th place at IRONMAN Florida last year, smashing the course’s bike record, completing the cycle in a time of 04:32:13. Bartlett become the winner of IRONMAN Lanzarote in 2019 and Matthews came 4th at Challenge Gran Canaria earlier in the year, making it a competitive field in Tulsa.
After achieving his first 70.3 win at Dubai in 2019, Bowden is now setting his sights on the full 140.6 miles for the first time. He’s joined on the start line by IRONMAN World Championships Kona two-times bronze medallist, David McNamee and Joe Skipper, who took gold at IRONMAN New Zealand last year 2020.
IRONMAN70.3 Chattanooga
Four British athletes are featured on the start list for this half distance IRONMAN race in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mark Borsuk, Andrew Garside, Tas Papasolomontos and Stephanie Pattinson are all set to start.
Chattanooga will offer 200 Age Group qualifying slots and 50 Women for Tri slots to the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah.
IRONMAN 70.3 Acapulco
Annie Frederick is Britain’s sole representative in Mexico. The race is Acapulco features an ocean swim, a cycle long along rolling hills and a final run through the town’s hotel district.
The race will offer 50 qualifying slots to the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah, USA as well as offering 25 qualifying Women For Tri slots to the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah USA.
