Mix of highs and lows for British Olympic contenders at World Triathlon Indoor Cup Lievin

It was a rollercoaster weekend for Team GB at the World Triathlon Indoor Cup Lievin, as Georgia Taylor-Brown extended her podium streak with a brilliant second place finish, but other British athletes didn’t fare so well.

Out of the eight Brits competing, two made it through to the A final, with Vicky Holland and Hugo Milner the only athletes not to progress past the qualifying stages.

Racing in front of a packed stadium, which produced an electric atmosphere as the field made their way through heats, a semi-final and a final, the fast and furious ten minute contests were a brilliant spectacle.

“One hell of a show”

After a third place finish at the European Cup in Quarteira last weekend, GTB looked to keep the ball rolling in Lievin and did so brilliantly, challenging for the win until the dying moments in an intense battle with eventual winner Laura Lindemann.

“Ooo la la that was an incredible experience! Merci Lievin, you put on one hell of a show for us. My eyes burn, my throat is dry, my lungs feel like a smokers and my little feet need a good spa treatment!

“But, I am beyond happy with where my team have managed to get me after a difficult end to last year! An Olympic distance and a super sprint back to back.

“Definitely time for feet up, recovery and then we can start the hard work into Cagliari for the Olympic Qualification. Thank you to everyone in Lievin for making yesterday an unforgettable experience and so much fun.”

DSQ for Holland adds insult to injury

For Olympic bronze medalist Holland, a disqualification in the heats was the final straw of a tough week, with the Brit describing the past seven days as a “bad dream”.

“Sickness after Hong Kong that’s been lingering all week, then the whole family got sick, including Emmie (obviously right on cue for the first time that both Rhys and I have left her with family, who are also now sick.) Haven’t been able to eat a proper meal all week.

“Felt like my health deteriorated again over the last 24h and wasn’t sure if I would start this morning. Started to pick up a bit, rallied, came 2nd in my heat… but wait, got a penalty for incorrectly racking my bike and didn’t realise, so finished the race without taking it = automatic DQ. My first ever.

“These bike racks aren’t normally used at this level of racing, but I acknowledge it is in the rules so it’s still my job to know. And of course, it’s my job to check the penalty board. Maybe I’m just low on sugar and sleep?! 

“So there it is, someone is trying to tell me something I think! This week has been one I’d rather forget and I don’t mind admitting I just feel deeply tired now. Going to allow my body, and mind, to fully recover for a few days before I think about triathlon again. I’ll be back, I just need a minute.”

Dickinson impresses against tough opposition

For the rest of the team, there were plenty of positives to takeaway from the weekend, with Samuel Dickinson making the A Final on the men’s side and eventually finishing in seventh.

Harry Leleu and Christopher Perham made the B Final, finishing in 14th and 16th respectively in the overall rankings, with Jack Willis just missing out on progressing from the Semi-Finals.

After last weekend’s win at the Europe Triathlon Cup in Quarteira, Milner just missed out on auto-qualifying from the heats and then again missed the Semi-Finals by a matter of seconds in the repechage.

Finally, Jessica Fullager raced strongly through the rounds, competing in the B Final and finishing in 12th place overall.