The inaugural Super League Triathlon Arena Games took place in Rotterdam on Sunday with Britain’s Jess Learmonth and Germany’s Justus Nieschlag leaving the victors.
Rotterdam’s Zwemcentrum hosted the event, and athletes completed a 200m swim in the venue’s 50m pool, 4km on a smart trainer and 1km run on a self-powered curved treadmill, with the virtual racing taking place on Zwift.
An innovative new event which saw Super League Triathlon bring international athletes together in a blend of real life and virtual racing, the Arena Games took on the Triple Mix format with athletes completing a swim, bike, run; followed by a bike, run, swim; and finishing with a run, swim, bike, with short breaks in between the stages.
Learmonth dominated in the women’s race, winning all three stages to take the full 30 points on offer in a top-class field. Points were awarded to athletes in each stage, with ten for the winner and one for tenth place.
From the outset, Learmonth showed she was the athlete to beat and showed her strength all the way to the end of the final stage as last year’s World Triathlon Series silver medallist proved that lockdown hasn’t affected her competitiveness.
The field of ten included her compatriot Georgia Taylor-Brown, IRONMAN world champion Anne Haug (GER) and Dutch favourite Rachel Klamer, with the Dutchwoman being her nearest competition as she finished second on 23 points. Valerie Barthelemy (BEL) finished third on 22 points.
Above: Taylor-Brown finished fifth in Rotterdam
Taylor-Brown finished in fifth place on 19 points as she narrowly missed out on a podium place in a sprint finish on the final virtual bike leg.
Speaking to Super League in Rotterdam, Learmonth said: “The Triple Mix format was so hard. It felt absolutely horrendous as I felt smashed after the first stage. I had a massive advantage with my swim as it doesn’t take that much out of me and I can recover in the pool.
“It’s great being back racing. I was apprehensive as I haven’t raced since the 2019 Tokyo test event and I didn’t know what to expect. It’s amazing that Super League have put this on for us and we really appreciate it because I know it was difficult.”
In the men’s race, Jonathan Brownlee was the sole man to pull on the union flag adorned trisuit against multiple World Triathlon Series champion, Javier Gomez (ESP), Pierre Le Corre (FRA) and Richard Murray (RSA).
The race was closer than the women’s race with no dominant athlete, instead, the athletes exchanged the lead on the various disciplines as well as throughout the stages.
Justus Nieschlag sprinted to the line at the end of stage three to take the overall victory on 24 points. Vasco Vilaca (POR) and Gomez (ESP) finished second and third on 22 and 20, with Brownlee fourth despite also finishing on 20 points.
Above: Brownlee was one of the first to sign up for the Arena Games
With three athletes, Gomez, Brownlee and Jonas Schomburg (GER), all finishing on 20 points, their final positions were allocated on countback.
On his victory, Nieschlag told the organisers: “I never thought I could come and win here as I haven’t raced for more than one year. It feels amazing as I hadn’t even thought about winning this race.
“It was all about tactics today and not going too hard at the beginning. I swam well today and my transitions were good and that was key for succeeding here.”
For more reaction and videos from the weekend, visit the Super League website below.
SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON ARENA GAMES
Photo credits: Super League Triathlon
