{"id":256,"date":"2022-01-14T15:06:08","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T14:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=91529"},"modified":"2022-01-14T15:14:21","modified_gmt":"2022-01-14T14:14:21","slug":"our-triathlon-predictions-for-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/our-triathlon-predictions-for-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Our triathlon predictions for 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Rob Slade\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 14 January 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

A new year is upon us and what a year it\u2019s going to be for triathlon. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The pro race line-up has never looked busier, with World Triathlon races, the new PTO events<\/a><\/strong>, Super League Triathlon, the Commonwealth Games, two Ironman world champs<\/a><\/strong> and a 70.3 world championship all to come.<\/p>\n

How everything is going to turn out is anyone\u2019s guess, but for the sake of entertainment, pride and bragging rights at the end of the year, the 220<\/em> team has decided to look into the crystal ball.<\/p>\n

So below, you\u2019ll find our predictions for what\u2019s going to happen in the triathlon world in 2022.<\/p>\n

Liz Barrett, deputy editor<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Kristian\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Kristian Blummenfelt in action during the elite men\u2019s competition at the 2021 World Triathlon Championship Finals in Edmonton (Credit: Artur Widak\/NurPhoto)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Records will tumble<\/strong><\/p>\n

And many will be broken by the Norwegian team across middle and long distances, in both Ironman-branded races and the Sub7hr Challenge<\/a><\/strong> (date still TBC). What Kristian Blummenfelt was able to achieve in 2021 \u2013 Olympic<\/a><\/strong>, World Triathlon<\/a><\/strong> and Ironman world record<\/a><\/strong> titles \u2013 was just the start.<\/p>\n

Birmingham will deliver a Commies for the ages!<\/strong><\/p>\n

By July restrictions will hopefully be all but gone and sports lovers from across the globe will be able to descend on Brum, which will host the UK\u2019s biggest sporting spectacle since the London 2012 Games.<\/p>\n

The triathlon takes place on 29 (men\u2019s and women\u2019s) and 31 July (mixed relay and PTV1) with, qualification-pending, four of the Tokyo medallists in action \u2013 Flora Duffy, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Alex Yee and Hayden Wilde. Plus, of course, the UK\u2019s gold-medal winning mixed relay team<\/a><\/strong> and Dave Ellis and Luke Pollard hoping to make up for their mechanical woes at the Paralympics in the PTV1 category.<\/p>\n

Helen Webster, editor<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Athletes\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Athletes prepare for the start of Ironman UK 2021 in Bolton, England (Credit: Nigel Roddis\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

We\u2019ll get back to a full season of racing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last year saw a lot of rollover race entries, but in 2022 I predict we\u2019ll see more people entering races afresh again and having a more complete year of triathlon. Covid safety measures are well established now and this should boost confidence in events. We may even see a bit more overseas travel to events (fingers crossed!).<\/p>\n

The open-water swimming boom will filter into tri<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lots of newbies got into open-water swimming<\/a><\/strong> during the lockdowns for mental health reasons or to avoid the pool, so I predict this will translate into more people having the confidence to do their first triathlon. If you can do an open-water swim, then it all looks a lot less daunting!<\/p>\n

Rob Slade, features editor<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Beth\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Beth Potter approaches the finish line during the 2020 Valencia ITU Triathlon World Cup (Credit: David Aliaga\/MB Media\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

British competition will heat up<\/strong><\/p>\n

The strength in depth has long been a feature of the women\u2019s side of British Triathlon and things are only going to heat up. Lucy Charles-Barclay has made clear her intention to dabble over shorter distances with an eye on Paris 2024, while up-and-coming athletes like Beth Potter and Sian Rainsley show signs of real promise.<\/p>\n

Add them to the existing cohort of talented athletes and British Triathlon will have a headache deciding who to back for Paris 2024.<\/p>\n

The lines between short and long-course athletes will blur<\/strong><\/p>\n

Triathletes competing on the World Triathlon circuit often wait until later in their career before they switch to long-course racing. We\u2019ve seen it with Tim Don<\/a><\/strong>, Alistair Brownlee and now we\u2019re watching as Javier Gomez<\/a><\/strong> makes the switch.<\/p>\n

But late last year Vincent Luis<\/a><\/strong>, Kristian Blummenfelt and Jelle Geens<\/a><\/strong> tried their hand at distances they\u2019ve not raced before. With three Ironman world championships (including 70.3) and a host of PTO events set to take place with large prize pots over the next 12 months, expect to see them and others attempt to make the jump early.<\/p>\n

Kate Milsom, staff writer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Elite\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Elite men racing at Arena Games Rotterdam 2020 (Credit: Super League Triathlon)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Triathlon will go mainstream<\/strong><\/p>\n

Triathlon will finally start breaking more into the mainstream with the Commies and Olympics taking place in consecutive years. Adding to this will be a rise in more fast-paced and drama-filled esports racing, such as the likes of the new Esports World Championship Series from Super League Triathlon and World Triathlon.<\/p>\n

Tri for everyone<\/strong><\/p>\n

The increase in outdoor sports experienced across the globe due to the Covid-19 pandemic will start to translate to an increase in popularity for more organised endurance sports like triathlon. More family members, old school friends, second cousins and neighbours will take up triathlon for a challenge and get the triathlon bug.<\/p>\n

Martyn Brunt, columnist<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Vicky\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Vicky Holland gets ready to compete for England in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (Credit: Michael Dodge\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Triathlon will step into the limelight<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following its spectacular introduction at the Olympics, the mixed team relay<\/a><\/strong> will be the most exciting event of the whole Commonwealth Games. Unfortunately I\u2019ll miss most of it because I\u2019m cycling over to watch it and I\u2019ll underestimate how long it takes me to ride to Sutton Park.<\/p>\n