We may be the reigning world champion and third in the Paris test event last August, but we may not yet have our ticket validated for the Paris Olympics. If he wore a trisuit of another color, Dorian Coninx would obviously already be qualified for Paris but welcome to France, where triathletes win the Worlds almost every year (4 successes in the last 5 seasons) and where competition is therefore rage.
Despite everything, the Grenoblois is obviously the one who is closest to being there since he now only needs one confirmation criterion, namely a top 6 in one of the next two World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) in Yokohama (this Saturday at 6 a.m. French time, broadcast at 10 a.m. on the L’Équipe channel) or in Cagliari (May 25). But if he chose to brave the 13-hour plane ride, the Japanese time difference (+7 hours) and always complicated acclimatization, it’s because the Frenchman wants to end the suspense this weekend.
Especially since the start list is rather advantageous in this Olympic format race (1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling, 10 km running) with the absence of Alex Yee (Olympic vice-champion title) of Hayden Wilde (3rd in the last Olympics in Tokyo) and Tim Hellwig (2nd in the 2023 Grand Final), all already qualified for Paris and very happy to avoid a return trip to Asia.
The Blues outsiders
Moreover, the fight could focus on the Blues, since in addition to the presence of the Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt and the Portuguese Vasco Vilaça, the Blues appear as outsiders with Léo Bergère and Vincent Luis, even Tom Richard.
The first named had a good 2023 season (3rd in the world) but is still not a priority for the Games. The second has come a long way and must absolutely show things to change the trend while Pierre Le Corre, also author of a qualifying criterion last season, is leaving the field open for the moment due to a delay in his preparation following a foot injury.
Like Le Corre, Cassandre Beaugrand will also be absent in Japan. But concerning the vice-world champion, it is only a choice of programming to avoid a too complicated trip. In view of the competition among the Blues, she will be in Paris, whatever happens. And this should also be the case for Emma Lombardi and Léonie Périault.
These two, on the other hand, are present in Japan (race at 3:15 a.m. French time) and there will be no shortage of ambitions since the numerous absences (Beth Potter, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Flora Duffy in particular) make it possible to envisage a very open race .
