Most of the big names booked their places for Saturday’s three-stage men’s final after Friday morning’s heats as WTCS Hamburg hosts the first-ever Super Sprint World Championships.
There was a second chance in the evening via the repechages and here’s how it all panned out…
Qualifier 1 – Vilaca shows the way
Current WTCS leader Vasco Vilaca (POR) was first across the line on the opening qualifier in a time of 19:55 for the 300m swim, 7.5km bike and 1.6km run.
The first 10 went through and they included WTCS Cagliari winner Alex Yee (GBR) and Vetle Thorn (NOR), who recently landed the European Games individual and relay titles.
But among those to miss out, meaning he will now try and seal his spot via this evening’s repechage, was Thorn’s compatriot Gustav Iden, who at the other end of the distance spectrum is the current IRONMAN World Champion.
Qualifier 2 – Blu quickest so far
It was a stacked second heat but the big hitters avoided any alarms and they were led across the line by Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) in 19:45.
Just behind him in second and third respectively were Hayden Wilde (NZL) and Matt Hauser (AUS), fresh from his maiden WTCS title in Montreal last time out.
Belgium’s Marten Van Riel also made it through but Henri Schoeman (RSA) is among the 40 names now fighting for the remaining 10 places in the repechages.
Repechages – No second chances
There were two heats, with five additional spots for the final available in each and it led to intense racing and a few faster times than the morning.
Excellence in the water paid dividends in the first of them for Bence Bicsák (HUN) who was to the fore throughout as he booked his spot.
Part of a five-man group after the swim he was the only one of the quintet to stay at the head of affairs and will line up on Saturday.
Iden was 20th and last out of the water and never looked like getting into contention, while there were mixed fortunes for US duo Morgan Pearson and Matthew McElroy, with the latter grabbing the fifth and final spot.
In the second heat New Zealander Dylan McCullough led out of the water and was out on his own on the bike.
But on the run he was overhauled first of all by Henri Schoeman (RSA), who would go on to book his place.
There were plenty of dismount penalties to cloud the issue, including Shachar Sagiv (ISR) who dropped from first to 15th in a matter of seconds.
WTCS Hamburg 2023 qualifying results
Friday 14 July 2023 – 300m / 7.5km / 1.6km
Elite Men – Qualifier 1 top 10:
- 1. Vasco Vilaca (POR) – 19:55
- 2. Manoel Messias (BRA) – 19:55
- 3. Jelle Geens (BEL) – 19:56
- 4. Vetle Thorn (NOR) – 19:56
- 5. Alex Yee (GBR) – 19:56
- 6. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) – 19:56
- 7. Simon Henseleit (GER) – 19:57
- 8. Tayler Reid (NZL) – 19:57
- 9. Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN) – 19:58
- 10. Antonio Serrat Seoane (ESP) – 19:59
Elite Men – Qualifier 2 top 10:
- 1. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) – 19:45
- 2. Hayden Wilde (NZL) 19:46
- 3. Matt Hauser (AUS) – 19:46
- 4. Csongor Lehmann (HUN) – 19:46
- 5. Tim Hellwig (GER) – 19:47
- 6. Max Studer (SUI) – 19:47
- 7. Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) – 19:48
- 8. Marten Van Riel (BEL) – 19:50
- 9. Charles Paquet (CAN) – 19:51
- 10. Tom Richard (FRA) – 19:53
Elite Men – Repechage 1 top 5:
- 1. Lasse Nygaard Priester (GER) – 19:37
- 2. Bence Bicsák (HUN) – 19:39
- 3. Jawad Abdelmoula (MOR) – 19:41
- 4. Lasse Lührs (GER) – 19:43
- 5. Matthew McElroy (USA) – 19:44
Elite Men – Repechage 2 top 5:
- 1. Valentin Wernz (GER) – 19:58
- 2. Henri Schoeman (RSA) – 20:01
- 3. Janus Staufenberg (NZL) – 20:02
- 4. Roberto Sanchez Mantecon (ESP) – 20:04
- 5. Seth Rider (USA) – 20:05
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