The best athletes in the world – sometimes seeming more like machines than humans – racing at paces that would make normal mortals dizzy: the appeal of a World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) race is undeniable, whether held over the Olympic or Sprint distance. But where does that magnetism actually come from?
To ask the question is to answer it, and the answer is surprisingly obvious. Anyone present at WTCS London last weekend who looked around before the start saw sculpted calves, thighs like steel cables, rock-solid abs, impressive shoulders, and arms that looked ripped straight off the Terminator. Athletes competing at the WTCS level – and playing a prominent role in it – are perhaps more machine than human. Take Matthew Hauser, Vasco Vilaça, Cassandre Beaugrand, or Lisa Tertsch: every single one of them is capable of extraordinary feats, delivering performances that sometimes seem downright impossible.
Before the start of a WTCS race, there is a calm before the proverbial storm. Athletes jog or walk casually around the start and finish area, adjust their bikes, check their running gear, and double-check their line through transition one last time. Here and there, they chat or snap a photo with young fans. Nothing gives away the fact that, moments later, these same athletes will be slicing through the water like swordfish, bike racing at speeds that wouldn’t look out of place in a Tour de France stage, and then running a final few kilometers at a pace the world’s best runners would respect. Add a few inevitable crashes to the mix – London certainly had its share – and the chaos and spectacle are complete.
For years, the WTCS has proven to be an intense mix of triathlon ingredients, producing races that people talk about long after the finish line. It’s an arena where careers are made, but sometimes broken. Where some athletes transcend the sport, while others make a quiet exit and fade into obscurity. The WTCS is brutal, but above all, it’s a spectacle to savor for a long time to come.
