Rain-slicked streets made for some thrills and spills as the Bahrain Victorious 13 team raced in Yokohama over the weekend.
Kicking the action off in the morning’s World Triathlon Para Series races, Lauren Parker (AUS) notched her third consecutive victory in the Japanese city. Racing unopposed, the reigning Paralympic champion clocked a 1:08:11 across the 750-metre swim, 21.2-kilometre bike, and 5-kilometre run, going 34 seconds faster than her previous race in Devonport in March.
The World Triathlon Championship Series races later in the day saw Vasco Vilaca (POR) hold strong for silver and Leo Bergere (FRA) finish just off the podium in fourth. The Bahrain Victorious 13 teammates emerged from the 1.5-kilometre swim leg just behind the swim leaders and tagged onto the front group early in the 37.23-kilometre bike leg. Off the bike and onto the 10-kilometre run, Bergere set the pace to whittle down the podium potentials to a group of five, then four before taking his foot off the accelerator. In the closing kilometres, Vilaca took to the front with only the eventual winner Matt Hauser going with him and putting on a final surge to take the tape.
Said Vilaca, “Since we started the run I tried to stay up front. Matt was going very tactical and I guess that I over estimated how strong I felt or I underestimated how strong Matt was. I saw Leo starting to drop so I decided to stay up front, tried to push the pace in the last lap. Kudos to Matt for such a great race, and I am very happy with my results.”
Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) was forced to end her WTCS season opener early. As the Olympic and world champion attempted to put on some speed after a turn, her tires slid from under her resulting in a crash with minor injuries.
Meanwhile Kacper Stepniak backed up from his Top 10 finish at Ironman Texas three weeks ago, finishing 8th at the Ironman 70.3 in Aix-en-Provence, France.
