Search
shop

ITU World Triathlon Hamburg: previews and predictions

The World Triathlon Series is back and so is Blair Cartmell to cast his eye over the race and try and predict the Hamburg podiums. Do you agree with him?
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Advertisement

Round Five of the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Series: Hamburg

A third consecutive victory for Flora Duffy?

Blair Cartmell (www.newtriathlon.com) is back with his regular preview and predictions feature, looking ahead to this weekend’s World Triathlon Hamburg.


ITU World Triathlon Hamburg – 15th July 2017

Blair Cartmell previews and predicts…

The World Triathlon Series heads to Hamburg – the longest standing venue of the WTS series – and it most likely ranks as one of the most popular races on the calendar with athletes and support staff. With over 200,000 spectators lining the streets it is obvious the Germans love their Triathlon. Both fields have great start lists with athletes looking to gain valuable points and for some, rubber stamp Commonwealth Games selection for English and Australian athletes.

Hamburg

The Course

A fast and exciting sprint course that has seen some amazing sprint finishes over the years and there is the likelihood that may happen again this year. The weather forecast looks sunny for the Saturday afternoon.

Swim – A single lap course that goes under the famous bridge. Normally a non-wetsuit swim.

Bike – A fast and pretty flat 6-lap bike course, and being a city centre course it is technical with two dead turns and plenty of corners per lap.

Run – A 2-lap course that follows part of the bike route finishing with a fantastic backdrop in the city centre.

Women’s Preview

As you would expect, there is a fantastic field assembled with 61 on the start line. Pretty much all the top girls are racing with the exception of Britain’s trio, Non Stanford, Jodie Stimpson and Vicky Holland due to injury.

Hamburg

On such a fast and exciting course predicting podium positions will be hard, but I still feel the major names will rise to the top. Flora Duffy is racing and looking to win her third WTS race of 2017. This is a course she has not raced since 2008, but she will start as warm favourite. Katie Zaferes returns as defending champion and comes off a recent second place at Yokohama. Andrea Hewitt returns to WTS sprint racing and looking at how dominant she was in the Gold Coast over a sprint distance, she will be looking to get her third WTS win of the season.

Other big names will include Kirsten Kasper and Taylor Spivey, both with WTS podiums this year. Ashleigh Gentle will be looking for another podium and with her run speed will be in the mix. Her swim has let her down this year and she has had to run from behind. This
race could be different for her.

Again, the big question will be whether a small breakaway will get away. It is a possibility and with the the likes of Duffy, and Britain’s trio of Jess Learmouth, Lucy Hall and Sophie Coldwell – and add in Alice Betto – it is a distinct possibility.

Hamburg

Home favourite Laura Lindemann will delight the home crowds and comes off a fantastic European Sprint title last month. It is also great to see Georgia Taylor-Brown back racing after her ankle injury forced her out of Leeds WTS.

Women’s Podium Prediction

  1. Flora Duffy (BER)
  2. Katie Zaferes (USA)
  3. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)

Men’s Preview

A fantastic lineup of 60 men will take to the streets of Hamburg and guaranteed there will be a frantic finish. All the major players for the overall series are racing.

Mario Mola returns as defending champion as does Richard Murray who was disqualified after a controversial incident with a race official last year.

Hamburg

2015 champion Vincent Luis is back and aiming to get back to that form after an indifferent start to the season. The rest of the Spanish Armada is back with Fernando Alarza and the evergreen Javier Gomez. Other dangerous athletes include Henri SchoemanKristian Blummenfelt and Jacob Birtwhislte, where it will be interesting to see his form after his move to the Joel Filliol coaching group.

Jonny Brownlee will be looking to get his first WTS win of the season and repeat his 2013 victory in Hamburg, but this time he won’t need to beat his brother. [UPDATE – Jonny will NOT be racing, “a late withdrawal from the race through illness”.

I feel the race will come together on the bike and will be won on the run and T2. Although we have seen breakaways get away in the past at Hamburg, with the absence of Brownlee senior and Richard Varga, it may just lack that front end speed and power.

There is a great line up of British athletes. Adam Bowden will be looking for his first ever WTS podium having come so close at Leeds last month, along with Tom Bishop. Marc Austin will be looking for a break through top-10 and gain more consistency at this level and Gordon Benson is in a similar position. Both are capable of doing this.

Home fans will be looking at young up and coming athlete Lassie Luhrs who comes off a recent eighth place at the European Sprint Champs and Justus Nieschlag.

Men’s Podium Prediction

  1. Mario Mola (ESP)
  2. Richard Murray (RSA)
  3. Vincent Luis (FRA)
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Kristian Grue wins Norseman 2025
Norseman 2025: Grue and Skala conquer ‘Zombie Hill’ and the world’s TOUGHEST triathlon
Hayden Wilde happy T100 Singapore 2025
Hayden Wilde – is he BACK for T100 London after injury nightmare?
Sam Laidlow run Roundhay Park IRONMAN Leeds 2025
‘I’m ready for it’ – Sam Laidlow on why triathlon is hitting new heights in 2025 ahead of IRONMAN World Champs
Alistair Brownlee Olympics Triathlon London 2012 Podium Gold
Olympic icon Alistair Brownlee reveals most British thing ever when it comes to fuelling recovery
Lionel Sanders IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2025 celebration finish line
Lionel Sanders provides BIG update on triathlon comeback
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...