World Triathlon x HYROX | Unfunded S2 EP28 (EP63)

This episode is sponsored by Official Beer Co.
Produced by Podfire.

Lockie and Lleyton are back after a week off for Lleyton's uni placement in aged care. Uni is done for the year, and he's six months from being a qualified dietitian. Lockie can finally clap again: he has full rotation back in his shoulder, is swimming about 1,200 metres a session and is down to 1:35 pace. He's also waiting on the cockpit for his new S-Works, with a 38 bar for the bike nerds. And at episode 63, the boys are closer to 100 than to zero.

The big news: World Triathlon is partnering with HYROX. The boys heard it four months ago from World Triathlon President Antonio Arimany on this very podcast, so they're not shocked. They ask whether the money will flow into triathlon or out of it, and agree with Max Stapley and Sophie Evans that the athletes should have been consulted first.

Then it's four World Cups in two weekends. In Hong Kong, a chaotic first can in Causeway Bay set up another run race, and 21-year-old Frenchman Nils Serre Gehri outkicked Cal McClusky, with David Castro third. Cal's post-race interview, when asked about Max Studer, gets a special mention. One second split the women's top three: Diana Isakova won and Jolien Vermeylen came second. The boys also talk about the Russian flag returning to start lists, and Max Studer's huge last leg that won the mixed relay for Switzerland ahead of Russia and China. In Iquique, Carolina Velásquez won ahead of Taylor Knibb and Marsha Pinnatel. Knibb came second just three weeks after winning the IRONMAN World Championship. David Cantero led Porter Middaugh and Antonio Serrat in the men's race.

Finally, WTCS Abu Dhabi. Hayden Wilde is on the start lists for both the sprint and the T100 that weekend, and someone has dug up World Triathlon's 24-hour rule. The boys explain it: Lleyton says just let him race, and both agree that the sprint coming first is the better way round for him. With an ocean swim and a flat bike course, they expect a run race. In their podium predictions, both back Matt Hauser and David Cantero in the men's race, with Lleyton adding Cal McClusky and Lockie adding Hayden Wilde. Lockie picks Diana Isakova, Jolien Vermeylen and Sophie Evans in the women's race.