RACE REPORT

Borrowing a page from Super League racing, World Triathlon Montreal’s elite race will feature a unique new racing format for the elite competitors. The two days of racing will see the elites compete in a qualification race on Friday morning, a repechage event for those who don’t automatically qualify from the qualifier, then a final on Saturday that will include three races run 10 minutes apart, which will once again see athletes eliminated after each race. Sunday will see athletes compete in the Mixed Team Relay.

The elites will race a 300-m swim, 7.2-km bike and a 2-km run. Friday’s qualifier will have two heats of 30 athletes (both men and women – there will be a total of 120 elites competing), with the first 10 from each wave automatically qualifying for Saturday’s final. The remaining 20 from each heat will race again, with the top five from each of those heats moving on to the final.

Saturday’s final will see the athletes go through the course three times. The first 20 from the first race will get to continue on to the second, with the first 10 from the second race heading out for the final leg.

If all that doesn’t tire the athletes out enough, they’re back on Sunday for the Mixed Team Relay.

The inaugural World Sprint Championships slated for Bermuda in October will use the same format.—KM