The reigning WTCS Cagliari champion returns

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For Alex Yee, Cagliari always means more than just a gold medal.

Alex Yee will return to the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sardinia this weekend following victory at the opening event in Abu Dhabi back in March.

Yee is defending champion from Cagliari, coming from behind on the swim and charging to victory on the run-in last year's edition.

But that race meant more than just victory for the Loughborough-based athlete, racing for a wider purpose following the crash of his friend and paratriathlete George Peasgood, as well as banishing the memories of his own 2017 fall.

Seven months later and with a strong block of training and a stellar season opener behind him, Yee is eyeing up another victory.

"Other than messing up my swim start and a bit of cramp on the run, Cagliari was a good win last year," he said.

"It felt special to put a few demons to bed having crashed there in 2017. It honestly was a nice full circle moment in my career.

"That race was dedicated to my special friend George who was sadly in a bad bike crash and was recovering at the time of the race.

"I'm just excited to race again, right a few processes which weren’t perfect and enjoy the feeling of racing after what feels like forever away.

"I'm feeling good and just starting to freshen up ahead of the race after a really good, and very hard, block of training. I'm looking forward to doing the fun bit now.

"I'm hopefully in better form than I was in Abu Dhabi.

"Cagliari properly feels like the start of the season and I hope I can reap what I have sowed since the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi last year."

With a packed schedule ahead in 2023, Yee opted out of the second WTCS event of the series in Yokohama and began to prepare for his Cagliari title defence.

British medals have continued to flow with Beth Potter and Sophie Coldwell picking up maiden golds to showcase the dominance of British women this season, victories that Yee believes have been a long time coming after watching the two athletes strive for excellence.

"With the Paris test event being included in the World Series, and four races plus the Grand Final counting for the World Champs, I decided to commit to Cagliari and miss Yokohama," said Yee.

"Cagliari also being two weeks further away facilitated a more specific block of training ahead of the season.

"I watched the race when I woke up and I won’t lie, I missed the feeling of racing, which fires me up for this week.

"The British women have been so strong for the last 10 years, and Beth and Sophie are the latest. Sophie and I train together in Loughborough and Liv, my girlfriend, is best friends with her.

"I know how committed and determined Sophie is and she, deservedly so, is being rewarded with some amazing results."

 

Images - World Triathlon

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