The 2018/19 Super League Triathlon Championship takes centre stage next week following the conclusion of the ITU World Series, and with it comes a shift in focus for star names at the top of the increasingly popular cross-code sport.
World champions Mario Mola and Vicky Holland are among those flying in from the Gold Coast having ended the ITU campaign in top spot, while the likes of Alistair and Jonny Brownlee and defending Super League Jersey champions Kristian Blummenfelt and Katie Zaferes are all set to return to the Waterfront with hopes of quickly adapting to the fast-paced SLT format.
Spaniard Mola, who finished fifth here 12 months ago, said: ‘I look forward to putting the Super League race suit on again. After a long season of swim/bike/run races I feel like coming back to the fast and furious SLT formats that makes the races so unpredictable and so entertaining to watch.
‘I think there is no better place than Jersey for that, I enjoyed my stay last year there and I am so happy to be back.’
The professionals will be joined by 15 amateurs in St Helier, including Jerseyman Ollie Turner, who will be battling for one of ten ‘golden tickets’ and automatic entry into the entire season. The series moves to Malta and Mallorca before Christmas, ahead of further events in Singapore and Australia in 2019.
Alistair Brownlee, who was disqualified in the Gold Coast for skipping a buoy in the swim, will make his first competitive appearance in Jersey a week this Saturday. The Olympic champion missed last year’s pilot event through injury, but did still travel to the Island to support his brother, and work as a SLT pundit.
Responding to the ITU Series disqualification, the 30-year-old tweeted: ‘Really disappointed with today. I thought I had a decent race in me. First ever DQ in any sporting event.
‘Was on the wrong side of the buoy and I’ve seen it on video. But was disorientated after being hit and held under the water in the roughest swim I’ve ever done.’
The star names are due to begin arriving in Jersey from Monday, ahead of a number of community events across the Island.
The Championship Series will begin on Saturday 28 September with the Super League Triple Mix, followed 24 hours later by the Enduro. Junior and community events will take place before the élite races on both days.
