Welsh Triathlon Super Series reaches penultimate round at Gower Triathlon
Race highlights will be available (free) next week
While the wider triathlon world may be focussed on Lausanne, Switzerland this weekend, there is money on the line in Wales too.
The Gower Triathlon (www.gowertriathlon.com) on Saturday represents the fifth of six events in the 2019 Welsh Triathlon Super Series, a title which offers a year-end bonus of £3000 to the winners.
With two events to go in the Welsh Triathlon Super Series calendar, Llanelli’s Liam Lloyd looks the firm favourite to take the national title.
Lloyd has dominated the series so far with three victories from the opening four races, including top spot at the season opening Llanelli Triathlon back in May.
With the Gower Triathlon taking place on Saturday, only rival Chris Silver can deny the 25 year-old victory in the overall standings. However, if Lloyd wins this weekend’s race, which centres around the village of Port Eynon, and Silver finishes any worse than second, it would be enough to hand Lloyd victory in the overall standings.
Meanwhile, the women’s championship remains wide open, with current leader Rhian Roxburgh opting to rest this weekend, aiming to consolidate top spot in the season-closing Sandman Triathlon on Anglesey in three weeks’ time.
This leaves the door open for the rest of the field, which includes second-placed Florence Swan, third-placed Rhiannon Middleton and Hannah Munday, winner of the first two stages in Llanelli and the TATA Steelman, who returns from a recent injury.
Highlights of the Gower Triathlon will be televised at 8.30pm on Friday 6 September, on S4C and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
“It’s been a great series and a good battle and it just all depends on where Chris and I finish in the last two races,” said Lloyd. “Gower will probably prove the toughest race. It’s a little bit longer than the others, but it’s a great setting for a triathlon. In fact, I was talking to someone the other day who’s been doing triathlon since before I was born and he said Gower was one of the first triathlons ever held in Wales.
“So, that makes it special, irrespective of the standings in the series. I am looking to finish with two wins in the last two events and that will be good enough to win, whatever anyone else does. Despite being picked as Wales’ triathlon representative at last year’s Commonwealth Games, Lloyd missed out on the Gold Coast after suffering a stress fracture.
This season though, the Great Britain international has put that disappointment behind him with his dominant performances in the Welsh Triathlon Super Series, as well as winning the Welsh National Duathlon title and a hugely impressive fourth place at the World Duathlon Championships in Spain.
Becoming Welsh Triathlon champion, however, is Lloyd’s main focus at the moment.
He added: “I didn’t do the series last year because the Commonwealth Games was early in the year. In the end, I didn’t compete at the Games because I got injured.
“But watching the Welsh Super Series last year, the atmosphere and the TV coverage made it an excellent series. It’s really growing in popularity and filling a gap in the UK. Watching it last year made me want to take part this time and that also went for a few others I know.
“The prize money (£3,000 to the overall winner) is also attractive and that’s increased the competition at the top level and the standard of athlete. It’s been a great series so far. It would be an honour to win it and the prize money would be very nice, too.”
Highlights of the two remaining rounds – Gower and The Sandman Sprint Triathlon on Anglesey – will be shown on S4C, with English subtitles available.
How to watch S4C in the UK:
S4C is available on: Sky 104, Freeview 4, Virgin TV 166 and Freesat 104 in Wales
Sky 134, Freesat 120 and Virgin TV 166 in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
S4C HD is available for Sky and Freesat viewers in Wales and across the UK.
Live online and on demand on s4c.cymru and by using the S4C Clic app for iOS and Android.
Viewers across the UK can also watch S4C on BBC iPlayer, tvcatchup.com, tvplayer.com and YouView.
