World Champion Beth Potter, Olympic hopeful Vicky Holland and 16-year-old sensation Fanni Szalai will all take part in the supertri E World Triathlon Championships powered by Zwift in London on April 13.
Potter, who landed the World Triathlon Championship Series crown for the first time last year, is a firm medal favourite for Paris, and has already booked her spot on the start line.
Like many other medal hopefuls she had been set to make her seasonal reappearance in the opening WTCS race of the season in Abu Dhabi only for it to be cancelled late on due to adverse weather conditions.
Potter vs Beaugrand rivalry resumed
But the 32-year-old will now get a chance to take on one of her big rivals Cassandre Beaugrand of France as they lock horns for another World Championship crown at the London Aquatic Centre in the innovative event which blends real life and virtual racing.
Both have outstanding records in the format too. In six appearances at what was formerly the Arena Games, Potter has only ever finished first or second – and has two London wins out of three to her name including last year.
The only time she didn’t stand on the top step of the podium in the English capital it was Beaugrand who took the win in emphatic fashion.
Clash of the generations
It will be a format debut for fellow Brit Holland who made a fine return to the sport late last season following the birth of her first child and still harbours hopes of another Olympics appearance in what is a fierce battle to make the GB women’s team.
The 38-year-old won an individual bronze in Rio and will be battling with the likes of Georgia Taylor-Brown, Sophie Coldwell, Kate Waugh and possibly Jess Learmonth to join Potter in Paris, with valuable ranking points on offer in London – as well as a chance to impress the selectors.
Also in for London is future star Szalai, with the Hungarian youngster having announced herself on the world stage in the Esports format in Switzerland last year.
The 2024 edition will up the pressure for the pros even further with up to 60 athletes competing in a dramatic one-day World Championship event in partnership with World Triathlon, with Jonny Brownlee the headline name announced so far in the men’s field.
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