Triathlon’s GREATEST MOMENTS
21 TRIATHLON RETURNS
Helvellyn Triathlon 2020
After months of event cancellations and athletic limbo due to Covid, it’s hard not to overstate the emotion at seeing Alistair Brownlee and 454 triathletes belatedly start their seasons at the Helvellyn Triathlon in September 2020. The race served as a timely reminder of the glory and the grit of triathlon, and just what a tough cookie this Cumbrian classic (and Ali Brownlee) is. The Yorkshireman battled the chilly waters of Ullswater, the famous ‘Struggle’ on the 61km bike, before the calf-shredding ascent/descent of the titular Helvellyn on the 14.5km run (not forgetting the odd flock of sheep) to reclaim his course record from 2007.
20 A CLASSIC BY THE THAMES
Windsor Triathlon 2001
After a career that saw him take two ITU and European championship titles and become Britain’s top Kona male in history, Spencer Smith would return to the Thames in 2001 looking for his seventh Windsor Triathlon title. Standing in his way was Andrew Johns, a fellow two-time European champion. The showdown was on. The duo would exit T2 together, with Smith establishing an incessant pace but failing to drop Johns from his shadow. The Brits would battle until the hallowed Barry Avenue finishing chute, where Johns edged Smith by just a second to take his first of three Windsor titles.
19 TRUE GRIT
Xterra World Champs 2014
Ned Overend, Conrad Stoltz, Lesley Paterson… off-road triathlon has had more than its far share of hardcore racers over time. Included in that list is Bermuda’s Flora Duffy, who badly crashed and suffered a mechanical issue on her way to winning off-road triathlon’s flagship event, the Xterra Worlds, in 2014. “I crashed so hard, I literally
