Aurelien Raphael, Jessica Learmonth Favored in Arena Games Singapore
The new Arena Games Triathlon World Championship Series Powered by Zwift has come down to the third and final Series event this Saturday in Singapore.
This year’s AGT events followed the inaugural 2021 series in the sprint distance indoor virtual competition. In a slight change, the Singapore event will feature a single outdoor swim rather than four indoor 50-meter pool legs. The format offers multiple stages including a 200m swim leg, while the 4km bike and 1km run disciplines are competed on smart trainers and self-powered curved treadmills with the power and speed monitors of the athletes turned into a virtual race via Zwift’s online platform. For both the on-site and the online streaming audiences, the power outputs and wheel rpms of athletes pushing the pedals on trainers or running on treadmills are translated into big screen virtual avatars jousting in front of a virtual course against avatars of other competitors. The format offers slam bang action with multiple stages that somewhat resemble the outdoor Super League Triathlon.
The current standings are derived from points accrued in the first two events staged in Munich four weeks ago and London on April 23. In those events, the winners earned 250 points apiece and down. However, in terms of the overall championship – only the top points scored one of the first rounds will count. In the Singapore round, the winners will amass 500 points apiece, making competitors who miss one event definitely in the chase for the World Championship.
So, Beth Potter of Great Britain with her win at Munich and Cassandre Beaugrand of France with her win at London share the women’s lead with 250 points apiece. Jessica Learmonth who skipped round one and won 214 points with her 3rd at London, and stands 5th overall, is heavily favored by experts who noted her strengths on the swim and bike to nab the 500 points at Singapore and take the championship.
Still in the running, Lena Meissner of Germany is third in the women’s division with 231 points after her second place at Munich and Anabel Knoll of Germany is 4th with 214 points after her third at Munich.
In the men’s chase, Aurelien Raphael of France, who won at Munich, and Justus Nieschlag of Germany, who won in London, are tied with the lead at 250 points. British Olympian and super runner Alex Yee, who took second in London, and Max Stapley of Australia, who took second at Munich, are tied for third in the series with 231 points.
Women’s and Men’s first and second round winners earned $5,000 apiece. Singapore will offer $7,500 to the winners and on down. Series podium finishers will take him an addition $8,000, $6,000, and $4,000 plus the distinction of earning Arena Games eSport Triathlon World Championship 1-2-3 status.
Arena Games live broadcasters Chris McCormack, Tim Don and Annie Emmerson offered some expert predictions:
Speaking on the Short Chute Podcast hosted by Will McCloy, the trio of Don, Emmerson and McCormack gave their picks- explaining that Learmonth’s energy-sapping recent outing at an Ironman 70.3:
“I am going to go with Learmonth to win it,” said McCormack. “I think she prefers this style for racing, she is such a strong competitor across the board but her swim is great. To that first swim buoy is going to be very difficult – it’s a very, very tight turn, you’ve got 8-10 athletes going round that first turn and she will be clear. I think it’s going to bank up and I think it is going to give her the advantage to escape on the bike – she has so much power on the bike and you’ve seen when you get Jess Learmonth in front, she is very quick.”
“I’m just backing what Macca said there about Jess,” added Emmerson, “She raced that half IRONMAN a few weeks ago and her body took a lot more time to recover that I think she would have liked so I think she’ll be back on fire.”
Don agreed: “Jess likes leading, she’ll get out there and Beth Potter hasn’t transferred her swim to open water, I think she will be on the back foot. The smart money is on Jess… who has also got room to improve her transitions which is only going to benefit her. I think it is going to be a close race but with Jess winning the race.”
Arena Games streaming availability:
Live via Super League Triathlon’s website and YouTube channel, on TriathlonLIVE.tv and via Eurosport, Discovery+, L’Equipe, Viaplay, OutsideTV and others, dependent upon the specific broadcast rights in your region.
The live broadcast show for the Finals runs from 16:00 to 18:30 local time. That’s 09:00 to 11:30 in the UK, and 04:00 to 06:30 Eastern time.
