After a false start at WTCS Abu Dhabi, which was cancelled due to extreme weather, WTCS Yokohama gave us a first glimpse at the form of the top athletes in the world ahead of the Paris Olympics.
For reigning Olympic Champion Kristian Blummenfelt, who since his win three years ago in Tokyo has focused on the longer distance, an underwhelming season opener in Japan leaves more questions than answers.
Reflecting on his race, the Norwegian admitted that a 10th place finish was far from what he had hoped for, and after finishing more than half a minute down on the winner, it’s back to the drawing board before WTCS Cagliari next weekend.
“I was expecting more from the legs”
Just behind the leaders in the water, Blummenfelt bridged up in the early stages of the bike and stayed at the front, but couldn’t stick with the likes of Morgan Pearson and Australians Matt Hauser and Luke Willian on the run.
![Kristian Blummenfelt Paris Test Event [Photo credit: World Triathlon / Wagner Araujo]](https://www.tri247.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kristian-Blummenfelt-Paris-Test-Event.jpg)
“Started off with a non-wetsuit swim, think I was +0:18 behind after the second lap, so that was okay, I’m happy with the swim.
“Early on I came into the first pack on the bike, settled in over the first 2-3 laps, tried to race smart and get through as easy as possible.
“I felt that the legs would be good and I was expecting to be ready for a run race, I was running on pace for the first 5km, but I was pushing a little too much and I lost contact with the group running for third after halfway.
“World Series Yokohama 10th place, I would have preferred to be further up, especially on the run, I was expecting more from the legs.”
All eyes on Cagliari
Now heading to Sursee in Switzerland before the last Olympic distance race WTCS prior to Paris, Blummenfelt hopes he can finish further up in Italy.
“10th place and I was 41 seconds behind the winner in the end. Even though I was 41 seconds behind, I think some of the guys up front were involved and had to surge back up again, so I would have been even further behind if there hadn’t been a crash.
“I was expecting more, so now it is back again to Europe before heading to Cagliari. I will be on a training camp in Sursee and will hopefully do some more race pace work on the run.”
