The Canadian triathlon quartet was aware that it was an underdog for the first tickets for the Paris Olympics in 2024. But regardless, it has gained experience.
Two passes for men, and two others for women, were granted Sunday to the champion team of the mixed relay in the Elite category, at the end of the World Sprint and Relay Triathlon Championships in Montreal, at the Grand Quai du Vieux-Port.
France, bronze medalists in this event at the Tokyo Olympics, dominated the competition in 1 hour, 27 minutes and 14 seconds, despite sunny skies and the fact that the thermometer indicated 33 degrees Celsius at the start (35 with the Humidex index).
The French quartet did not have the same pressure as the others, since they are already guaranteed to participate in the Paris Olympics in 2024 under the pass granted to the host country. As a result, it was runners-up Great Britain who got the precious tickets.
Great Britain, the reigning Olympic champion, finished second, ahead of the American team.
For its part, Canada finished the mixed relay in fifth place. A more than satisfactory result, according to Quebecer Emy Legault.
“I think it’s the first time we’ve achieved such a result since 2017 or 2018. Now we’re all going to have to improve a bit, individually, and then come together to push towards the podium. . Today, we saw a lot of penalties, crashes, because the majority of athletes were very tired, so the key was to avoid mistakes. »
“And we were very good at that. So, we are not very far (from the powers), and if we continue to work hard as a team, then it could one day become possible, ”added the 26-year-old athlete.
These results, however, meant that the British team could not complete the weekend sweep in the Elite categories, after Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee won the women’s and men’s world titles respectively in the sprint.
Unlike the United States and France, which have included athletes from their development program (under 23) in their quartet in order to assess their progress, Canada has chosen to put all the gum into it with its training. Elite.
“We put the best team on the start line, hoping to win the race. Was it possible to win? We were probably not the favorites, but we obviously had a competitive team,” said Legault, from L’Île-Perrot.
Bodes well for the Commonwealth Games
Manitoba’s Tyler Mislawchuk — slightly injured after being run over by a cyclist on Friday before qualifying — set the tone for the first run. Mislawchuk gave the baton to Legault, 12e the day before in the women’s final, and this allowed her quartet to climb to seventh place at the halfway mark.
“I found myself behind the Norwegian during the swim, and I knew she was excellent in that phase, so she became my ticket to the front of the peloton. Then I stayed in his wheel on the bike, and we caught up with the girls at the front, ”explained Legault first.
“Then my goal was simply to keep us in the small leading pack before I handed over. […] I felt like I had concrete where my thighs were during the run, but all the girls were in the same boat, so it went well,” she continued, visibly satisfied. of his performance.
His compatriot Charles Paquet, 19e Saturday in the men’s final, took charge of the third relay, and he allowed the representatives of the maple leaf to climb up to fourth place.
“I was starting to feel a bit tired after all these races, but I’m super happy. I managed to move up to fourth place, so it ends the weekend well. It’s encouraging, with the Commonwealth Games (in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8) fast approaching,” said Paquet, all smiles.
Ontario’s Dominika Jamnicky then completed the race, confirming the top-5 in the maple leaf.
Legault will now take a break to treat the water blisters on her feet that affected her throughout the weekend, before hitting the road again. She and Paquet have indicated that they intend to participate in the Hamburg World Cup on July 9 and 10.
It was the largest international triathlon competition held in Quebec since the 1999 World Championships. A total of 1,500 participants from over 40 countries competed in various categories in the city over end.