In the Paralympic Test Event, Dave Ellis guided by Luke Pollard took another gold medal as they won the PTVI men’s race at 2023 World Triathlon Para Cup Paris, with fellow Brit Oscar Kelly, guided by Charlie Harding, taking fourth. In the PTS5 women’s race, Claire Cashmore finished second behind American Grace Norman.
With the race changed to a duathlon at late notice, Ellis and Pollard adapted quickly and set after American Kyle Coon, who started ahead of the Brits due to the staggered start of PTVI racing. The American would later be disqualified for failing to complete the correct number of laps on the second run having already been passed by Ellis and Pollard.
While Ellis and Pollard pulled clear of the chasers, Kelly and Harding were working hard in the midfield to keep within contention on the bike. The pair had a battle on their hands with a number of nations and made good progress across the 18.5km bike leg.
Onto the second run, Ellis and Pollard took the lead and built a healthy gap back to Coon in second. Confusion then struck as Coon took the tape first but the American had only completed two laps of the now three lap run course causing his disqualification.
Ellis and Pollard crossed the line and their victory was confirmed shortly after. Kelly and Harding were the fifth pair across the line, but the disqualification saw them confirmed in fourth.
Ellis said: “I’m a little bit disappointed it wasn’t a swim. It would have been interesting to see how it unfolded in a race but it’s good we managed to get something in and have a bit of fun.
Pollard added: “It’s a pretty special course, really quick actually, making for some fast, exciting racing. Going down the Champs Elysees is pretty epic with the Eiffel tower in the background.”
Kelly commented: “The support we’ve had from the team has been up there. They were letting us know what was going on and keeping us confident ahead of the race.
“It’s interesting to see how people handle it, it helps us in some respects. We have had a technical bike course and got to know our lines but there’s things we can do with our set up to help us with this course and we’ll learn more over winter, so we’ll see how we go next year.”
Harding said: “I think the swim is our strongest, so a bit gutted when it was cancelled this morning but equally the health of the athletes is the most important thing. We adapted really well to a duathlon this morning.”
In the PTS5 women’s race, Cashmore spent the majority of the first run in fifth place but moved onto the podium positions in T1.
From there she worked hard to close the gap to Norman out in front and did get the gap down to within 30 seconds at one stage of the bike. She was unable to catch the American before getting a penalty in T2 for crossing the dismount line, adding to a transition infringement from T1.
Cashmore’s race from then on was a lonely one as, despite her penalty, she finished 31 seconds clear of Kamylle Frenette of Canada in third, but three minutes a drift of Norman.
Cashmore said: “I’m happy and a bit frustrated I got a penalty. I went across the dismount line and got confused with my laps. This is why it’s the test event, it shows how to make mistakes and the next year it’s nice and smooth.
“It was pretty incredible out there, you don’t get to enjoy the iconic monuments around you, but it was great. Riding down the Champs Elysees, you’re just like wow, it’s a special moment.”
The Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games Test event concludes tomorrow with the mixed team relay from 7am. Watch the action on Triathlon Live.
