She might have the full complement of Olympic triathlon medals, but as Georgia Taylor-Brown enjoys a ‘gap year’ from the Olympic cycle and dips a toe in the waters of longer distance racing. She’s making the most of the opportunity to be a ‘novice’ (her words!) and to take the time to enjoy racing, without the pressure to achieve certain results.
After her debut T100 on the streets of London just a few weeks ago, the British star has had only a few weeks to recover – with the small matter of racing supertri Chicago thrown into the mix – before she takes to the start line in Fréjus this weekend. We caught up with Georgia during race week to find out what she’s learned from London, how she’s enjoying the change of pace – and to get her take on who she reckons is currently in contention to take the overall T100 crown in Qatar later this year.
A busy August schedule
With just three weeks between London T100 and the race in France this weekend, and a hop across the pond last weekend for the fast and furious racing of supertri Chicago. August has featured a pretty hectic schedule for Georgia. But the opportunity to have another whirl at the T100 distance, the fact she could drive over from Girona and bring her dog, Alfie, along for the ride. And the opportunity tor race over the same weekend as her short course friends meant taking the French Riviera T100 wildcard slot was a no brainer for GTB.
“I thought it was really cool because I can race on Saturday and then I can go and watch all of my friends on Sunday, racing the World Triathlon race,” she explains. “Also, I just wanted another chance at a T100. I knew for my first one [London T100], I was just going to learn a lot from the race but not really come away with a result. Hopefully this one, I can take what I’ve learned – I’m not expecting ‘a result’ but hopefully it will be a bit better than London!”
Attack the Aussie exits and nail the first part of the bike: learnings from London T100
And that busy schedule has meant that for Georgia, it’s been less about changing anything in training and more about taking what she learned from London and apply that to how she executes her race in France.
“I haven’t really had chance to do anything different between London and now. There’s not been that big of a gap, and I’ve been racing supertri so I’ve been back on the road bike.”
“I think the biggest thing is more just changing things in the race and how I’m going to race because I learned a lot from London. My swim was ok in London, so I took a positive from that. I had a good first lap but I lost a lot of time on the Aussie exit. So this time I’m going to try and really focus on that. I think sometimes I can switch off a bit on the Aussie exit and treat it like a little bit of a rest – but it shouldn’t be! So I need to really attack the exit and run hard back in to the entry again. And then just really focus on that first lap making sure I’m on the feet, I lost the feet at the end of the first lap in London and I think that’s what kind of screwed me up.”
“I know on the bike I need to nail that first 10-15km and go way above the power and effort that I’d like to go. I think you just need to go harder to get a good position, because of Race Ranger and how it all works with the non-drafting, you need to get a good position so that you’re kind of at the front of the group.”
“The problem in London was I let everyone go past me, and then I was 6th wheel. And it’s not like you can just move up one place, you have to move up five places and it’s physically impossible in 45 seconds!” A rear wheel puncture and an incompatible spare wheel costing GTB vital minutes probably didn’t help, either!
“I am just an amateur in this”: the cool but “really scary” challenge of racing against some of the biggest names in long course triathlon
There aren’t many who’d think to use the phrases ‘novice’ or ‘amateur’ in relation to GTB and triathlon. But, she says, that’s exactly how she feels. Describing lining up alongside some of the most experienced middle and long distance racers, she reflected: “It’s really cool. It’s really scary! But I’m super grateful. In London, it was such a good start list and so I’m just learning from everyone else and asking questions, seeing what every else does.”
“It’s really nice to come in as a bit of a novice. You know, I am just an amateur in this, I don’t know anything about it really. I know it’s triathlon, but I don’t know anything about this style and distance of racing. So I’m like an open book, taking everything in and learning from everyone. And if I sound stupid, then it’s ok because I’m just trying to learn!”
Time and headspace to enjoy racing for what it is
Given that Georgia is well accustomed to lining up on start lines on the world’s biggest triathlon stages, with vast amounts of expectations on her shoulders. We were interested to find out if coming over to the 100km distance had given her an opportunity to enjoy racing, perhaps without quite so much pressure.
“I definitely think I can enjoy it more. Even in London, I was just there to enjoy it, take it all in and have fun. It’s the same with any race this year. I can see how different I am going into races. Doing the Hamburg World Series, doing supertri and then doing this race – I’ve been in those three different types of races. And I can see where I was last year and in previous years, you’re so focused before the race on doing everything right. You’re a bit different on race morning because you’re trying to focus and think about the race.”
“Whereas at the minute, how I’m racing this year, I’m smiling, I’m laughing. I’m just enjoying it and taking it all in. And it’s so nice to be able to do that because I’ve never really been able to have the time or headspace to do that, because I’m so focused on the overall outcome and result.”
“It’s nice to just step back and enjoy the racing for what it is and appreciate everything. It’s very different for me to be here. I mean, I’m racing – but I’m almost just participating. I’m just doing these races, whereas everyone else is obviously doing it for a result and they want a good overall result at the end of the season in Qatar. It’s quite different and I’m enjoying that while I can because I know it’s not going to be forever and at some point it’s going to have to switch and I’ll have to be back focused on racing for an outcome.”
A course that plays to everyone’s strengths: how GTB thinks the French Riviera T100 might play out
The mission for Georgia in Saint Raphael-Frejus this weekend is clear: “take what I learned in London and implement it. I’ll be happy if I can cross the finish line on Saturday and know that I did exactly what I had learned from London, even if the overall result isn’t very good.”
But with the course at the French Riviera T100 being so different to other races on the circuit – a 1-lap 80km bike course for the pros with rollers along the coast road before one more significant climb, compared to the usual multi-lap format. We were keen to get Georgia’s take on how the race dynamics might play out.
“If it’s super windy, that could play a big part in the race and it could make it a bit sketchy. I think everyone’s a bit nervous about the wind because we’re on the coast and it’s inevitable. It’s a sea swim so that could be choppy.”
“I’m looking forward to the one loop bike course. There’s a bit of everything. The climb isn’t a really steep one where people can get away, but I think if people are more confident they might try and get away on the descent. But it’s got a bit of everything, and I think we can actually spend quite a bit of time in our aero bars which will be nice compared to London where we were dodging the potholes. I think it can play into everyone’s strengths, so it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out!”
It’s a short course coup: GTB’s picks on who could take the overall T100 title in Qatar
Before we let Georgia get back to her race prep (which she said involves making sure you “chill as much as you can, drink as much as you can, eat as much as you can”). Now we’re on the home straight in the T100 Race to Qatar. We wanted to get her predictions for who she reckons could take the overall win. And if Georgia’s on the money, we could be in for a short course takeover!
“You can’t look past Hayden [Wilde] for the men. I think Hayden’s probably got it in the bag. I think after his crash, he’s extra motivated now to just get out there and use all that anger because he hasn’t been able to race.”
“But for the women? I don’t know! It’s so close in the women’s race. But I think I’m going to say Kate Waugh, I think she’s probably going to win. I think it’s going to be really close, but I think she’s going to get it. And I actually think her coming second in London will help her and motivate her more. Maybe if she won in London, she might have got a bit complacent. But I think because she came second, she was still happy but she’s still a little bit upset so I think that will motivate her even more for the rest of the season now.”
We’ll have to wait until December to see if Georgia Taylor-Brown’s crystal ball predictions come true. But in the meantime, you’ll be able to catch all the pro action live from the French Riviera T100 this Saturday 30 August with the men’s race getting underway at 7.05am local time followed by the women at 07.12.
Inspired? Finish up your race season with these T100 age group races
The next two T100 races might be pro only (Spain T100 and Wollongong T100). But if you’re feeling inspired and you fancy one last start line before the year is out. There’s still chance to get in on the T100 action in Dubai in November, or in the open race alongside the World Championships in Qatar in December. Tap the link below to find out more and secure your place!
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