Frederic Funk and Richard Varga were the centre of attention in the pre-race press conference ahead of Challenge Family’s The Championship on Sunday, which carries a professional prize purse of €100,000.
Funk is the clear favourite for the title at the Samorin showpiece as he looks to round off a sequence which has seen him come third in 2023 and second in 2024.
While sensational swimmer Varga, Slovakia’s most successful triathlete, is bowing out of the sport after an illustrious career.
Tough training block
The rankings may point to Funk but as the German pointed out: “I planned to win the last six times I was here!
“Let’s see how I feel on Sunday but I will definitely tackle the race to finally get the top spot.
“I trained two-and-a-half months in Noosa in heat and humidity then went to altitude for three weeks and came down yesterday. I am hoping that training in tough conditions for last few months will help my fitness.”
In terms of how the race will pan out, one of Funk’s main rivals – Britain’s Tom Bishop – thinks the bike could be decisive.
He said: “I’ve studied the start list and it’s going to be a chase from start to finish. I know Fred’s going to make it hard on the bike and we’ve got some of the best swimmers in tri history here as well.”
Home favourite
That last line was surely referring to home favourite Varga, a longtime training partner of the Brownlees who would drive the pace in the early stages of countless ITU / WTCS races and represented his country at both the London and Rio Olympics.
Varga said: “Last year I felt like that’s it for me for racing, my body wasn’t having it anymore. I wanted to do my last race in Thailand but it wasn’t feeling right. It didn’t feel right to finish somewhere that is not home.
“This is the biggest race in Slovakia and what better way to finish with athletes like these, it’s a shame Johnny (Brownlee) isn’t here, we carry so many stories and experiences together.
“But to say goodbye with the people I’ve raced with for years is the best way to finish and it’s amazing to do it here at The Championship.”
Brownlee was an intended starter but was ruled out earlier this week through illness.
You can watch all the action unfold right here on TRI247 via this link – and here are our predictions for both the men’s and women’s podiums.
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