Tyler Mislawchuk and Charles Paquet rocket into top 10 in Olympic stream race
YOKOHAMA, Jpn.—Canada’s Stefan Daniel opened the World Triathlon Para Series with a bronze medal in Yokohama, Japan on Saturday, while Tyler Mislawchuk and Charles Paquet grinded their way into the top 10 of the Olympic streamed race.
The 28-year-old Daniel kicked off his fourth Paralympic quadrennial while battling through the morning rain and a star-studded field in the men’s standing classification. Daniel, a two-time Paralympic medallist, clocked a time of 59:46, finishing just five seconds off the top step of the podium in the sprint distance format.
“It wasn’t a great day, but I guess it was okay all things considered. I have not raced since October, so I think it was clean and I did alright across the board,” said Daniel following his 46th career podium in 64 starts. “The transitions were solid. I swam well and road smoothly. The run didn’t go that well. I was in a fight with a couple of other guys but just didn’t have the gear to close it today.”
Germany’s Martin Schulz clocked a time of 59:41, while Australia’s Jack Howell finished just one second off the leading mark at 59:42.
“Every year, this field gets tighter and tighter. The guys always come together now on the bike, and these are becoming running races more and more which really legitimizes the sport. The results show how deep it is getting. It just keeps getting more competitive and closer every year,” added Daniel.
It was a hard-nosed battle throughout the triple-sport test on Saturday morning in Japan.
Calgary’s Daniel exited the 750-metre swim in third place. He dropped one spot while pedalling onto the slick 20-kilometre bike course where he remained until the midway point of the slick, four-lap test in steady rain where he jockeyed in and out of podium position.
“I would bike quite solid on the straights, but took no risks on the corners, which may have cost me a bit of time. I wanted to make sure I got through unscathed and continue to rebuild my confidence on the bike,” said Daniel referring to his unfortunate crash at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Storming onto the five-kilometre run course in fourth spot, the soft-spoken Canuck quickly made up two spots but couldn’t hold on for the final half of the run.
“We all came off the bike pretty much together. We stayed the same for about 1.5 laps before the Aussie caught us,” said Daniel. “They were right there. I just didn’t have the normal gear that it takes today to close that down. It is a bit frustrating.”
Tyler Mislawchuk and Charles Paquet Battle into Top 10 in World Triathlon Championship Series Race
Tyler Mislawhchuk and Charles Paquet picked up where they left off at the Paris 2024 Olympics, contending for the podium, with both Canucks finishing in the top 10 on Saturday.
Competing through intense rain, Mislawchuk (Oak Bluff, Man.) finished in sixth place with a time of 1:42:04. Paquet, (Port Cartier, Que.) finished in the top 10 for the second-straight year in Yokohama, placing 10th at 1:42:51.
Mislawchuk, a three-time Olympian, came out of the 1.5-kilometre swim in 19th spot. After settling into a large pack for the 10-lap bike course, he began picking his way up the leaderboard one-step at a time when foot hit pavement. He eventually ran out of real estate and crossed the finish line sixth.
Paquet was steady throughout the triple-sport test. The 2024 Olympian, who finished 13th at the Paris Games, was 12th out of first transition. He stayed out of trouble by quickly making his way to the front of the pack for the 40-kilometre ride. He exited second transition, 22 seconds back of the leaders, in 16th place and quickly surged to fifth spot for the first half of the run.
He couldn’t match strides with the elite group in the back half of the four-lap run course through the streets of Yokohama and dropped to 10th.
Australia’s Matthew Hauser won the men’s race with a time of 1:41:08. Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca placed second at 1:41:14. Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo rounded out the men’s podium with a time of 1:41:29.
Martin Sobey, of Charlottetown, P.E.I., was solid in 26th at 1:45:15. Ontario’s Liam Donnelly did not finish.
Two Canadian women hit the start line in Yokohama. Rising star, Sophia Howell, took advantage of a top 10 swim and bike, but ran out of gas on the run. The Airdrie, Alta. resident clocked a 21t place time of 1:54:08 in the Olympic distance race.
Olympian Emy legault, of L’Île Perrot, Que., finished on her teammate’s heels in 22nd spot. The 29-year-old clocked-in at 1:54:23.
Luxembourg’s Jeanne Leahair took the gold medal in the women’s race with a time of 1:51:34.
Complete World Triathlon Para Series Results
Complete World Triathlon Championship Series Results
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