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WTS Hamburg: “One of the biggest triathlon weekends of the year”

Hamburg, Germany, hosts WTS event and the World Mixed Relay Team Championships this weekend

The WTS event in Hamburg, Germany, is a weekend of all-out racing from the age groupers to elites.

Age group triathletes have the option of completing the sprint or Olympic distance triathlon on Saturday. The course takes place in the heart of Hamburg. On the bike, the route passes by many of the city highlights including the old city, its world-famous fish market and Landungsbrücken, the transportation hub of Hamburg. Also, a section of the Lombardsbrücke (bridge in the centre of Hamburg) has been incorporated which offers an incredible view of the Alster.

Hamburg Lombardsbrücke

Following the age group triathlons, the course is taken over by the elites. The atmosphere at this race is incredible, and it is an experience all the pros look forward to.

World leader Mario Mola will be present at the race this weekend, along with the top Canadian male Tyler Mislawchuk. This year Mislawchuk has been on a roll of late and is keen to maintain his top ten world ranking. “Taking care of the races, will take care of the ranking,” says Mislawchuk as he looks to be a contender in the WTS. Canadian Matthew Sharpe joins Mislawchuk in the men’s race.

On the women’s side, World Leader Sarah Zafares will be on the start line in Hamburg along with Vicky Holland (GBR) and Rachel Klamer (NED). Canada will have two women racing this weekend Joanna Brown and Amelie Kretz.

ITU Hamburg. Credit: www.triathlon.org

Following their races, the best in the world will duke it out in the World Mixed Relay Team Championships on Sunday. The city of Hamburg is the home of mixed relay racing. The racing is intense, and the crowd is loud. Now that the relay format has been included into the Olympics, qualifying points will be on the line for Tokyo 2020 this weekend.

Team Canada will look to improve upon their seventh place at the Mixed Relay race in Nottingham earlier in June. To qualify for the games, Canada needs to acquire enough points to be ranked inside the top seven in the world. For the Canadian triathletes competing in Hamburg this weekend the team relay is very much front and centre in their minds. “My number one priority is helping Canada qualify. Seven is the magic number,” says Tyler Mislawchuk. Desirae Ridenour another Canadian who will be racing in the mixed relay says, “My priority is helping Canada qualify.”

Be sure to watch on the action live this weekend with CBC’s livestream of the weekend of racing. Saturday coverage begins at 7:55 AM (ET). Then on Sunday the livestream of the relay starts at 8:30 AM (ET).