Mixed team RELAY
Whether it’s the development
programme that churns out athletes by the dozen or the proving ground of their longstanding Grand Prix series, for a favourite for Tokyo’s mixed team relay, look no further than France. Raced over a 300m swim, 6.8km bike leg and 2km run, the two-man, twowoman contest has picked up momentum ahead of its Olympic debut, with more events added to the World Series calendar and more nations competing. It’s also become clear what makes a successful relay team: 1. Not having a weakness in any of the four legs. 2. Having a fast runner on the anchor. The French tick both boxes. Whether Dorian Coninx or Leo Bergere ends up racing with Leonie Periault and Cassandre Beaugrand, there’s little doubt it’ll be two-time and reigning world champion Vincent Luis on the final leg. France have won the last three mixed relay world titles and Luis’ finishing kick is a big reason why, but they won’t have it all their own way on 31 July.
Great Britain also look formidable. Pair two of Jess Learmonth, Georgia TaylorBrown or Vicky Holland with Jonny Brownlee and it’s hard to think they won’t be in contention before a final leg handover to Leeds WTCS winner Alex Yee.
“MUCH CAN HAPPEN IN THE THROES OF A MIXED RELAY, BUT ONE THING IS CERTAIN, THIS ONE WILL BE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN EVER BEFORE”
Then there’s the USA, who were second behind France in last year’s world champs in Hamburg and could have three of that quartet lining up in Tokyo. Two from Katie Zaferes, Summer Rappaport or Taylor Knibb will join Kevin McDowell – picked specifically ahead of Matt McElroy for the relay – and Morgan Pearson. Don’t write off Australia, either. If the Commonwealth Games winners are still in contention by the time Jake Birtwhistle takes over for the final leg, they’ll be a threat for gold. The Aussies are traditionally strong at the relay having been on the world championship podium five straight years from 2015, and former track runner Birtwhistle is one of the few men to have beaten Luis in a sprint finish, in Hamburg in 2019. Australia also have the advantage of being the only nation to qualify three men and three women for the Games, so have maximum options for selection. Behind the favourites, the selfstyled Belgium Hammers, who won the final qualification event in Lisbon, are fortified by the men’s pairing of Marten van Riel and Jelle Geens. With Maya Kingma and Rachel Klamer, the Netherlands look strong on the women’s side, plus there’s 2018 Commonwealth bronze medallists New Zealand and 2019 world runners-up Germany with Jonas Schomburg, Justus Nieschlag and Laura Lindemann. Switzerland, Denmark and Italy will also fancy their chances of an upset, with many of their athletes prioritising the relay over the individual event. Much can happen in the throes of a mixed relay, but one thing is certain, this one will be more competitive than ever before.