Bytagand the publication "TRIATHLON – Finale GP FFTRI 2019 La Baule: a very high-level field with Vincent Luis and Mario Mola –"
Bytagand the publication “TRIATHLON – Finale GP FFTRI 2019 La Baule: a very high-level field with Vincent Luis and Mario Mola”
The international deadlines passed, the best French and international triathletes are back within the French 1st division clubs, on the occasion of the Final of the 2019 Triathlon Grand Prix which will be held this Saturday, September 21, on the embankment of La Baule. A final stage of the circuit all the more important since its coefficient is 1,5 and the gaps are tight to hope to get on the podium. Also, the return of recent international medalists in the ranks of the clubs, promises a final full of twists and turns.
In the women's category, Poissy Triathlon, which has three Championship victories to its name this season (Châteauroux, Muret, Quiberon), took back the lead in the general classification during the 3rd stage, just ahead of Metz Triathlon. The two clubs are a few points apart, and the final will prove decisive. Poissy Triathlon has chosen to line up its shock trio (Taylor Spivey, Cassandre Beaugrand, Sandra Dodet), back from the World Championships. In the absence of Léonie Périault - resting on this last stage - it is Justine Guerard and Kristelle Congi who will complete this Pisciacaise team. After remarkable results both individually and collectively, the Pisciacaises will want to end their season in style by winning both the stage and circuit titles.
Metz Triathlon does not intend to give up and will fight until the end. On this last stage, we will find under the blue and orange colors, Jeanne Lehair (3rd in Dunkirk), the British Non Stanford (1st – WTS Hamburg), the Hungarian Zsanett Bragmayer, and the Belgian Claire Michel. Note the return to the circuit of Margot Garabedian.
Issy Triathlon and Tri Val de Gray, respectively 3rd and 4th in the provisional ranking, will be fighting to hope to climb onto the final podium. Each with 2 stage podiums, the two clubs are now only 2 points apart. This last stage (coefficient 1,5) will therefore be decisive for both clubs. In terms of composition, Issy Triathlon will be led by the recent U23 World Champion, Emilie Morier (also a member of the French Mixed Relay World Champion Team). Alongside her, we will find the Spanish Carolina Routier, the Austrian Sara Vilic, the Russian Elena Danilova, and her French teammate Blandine Guilloteau.
The Tri Val de Gray – which finished on the 2nd step of the podium in 2018 – hopes to get back on the podium this year. To do this, the Franche-Comté club has called on its best French athletes with the presence of Jessica Fullagar (Bronze Medalist at the Junior World Championships), Emmie Charayron (French Triathlon Champion), Clémence Tedesco and Mathilde Gautier (3rd – Holten European Cup). The French quartet will be reinforced by the Japanese Yuko Takahashi who created a surprise in Quiberon by finishing 4th in the stage.
At the bottom of the table, Triathlon Toulouse Métropole, Autun Triathlon and TCG 19 Parthenay will fight to keep their place in the 1st Division next year.
A grand slam for the men of Poissy?
In the Men's category, it's a clean sheet for Poissy triathlon, which has won 4 in a row in this 2019 Triathlon Grand Prix! Having dominated the circuit since the start of the season, the Pisciacais intend to leave their mark by achieving the "Grand Slam" with a new victory in this final stage. To do this, a big team has once again been announced - identical to that of Quiberon - with the presence of Dorian Coninx, Anthony Pujades, Tom Richard, Aurélien Raphaël and Antoine Duval. But the club will have to be wary of the reigning French Champions, the men of Saint-Jean de Monts Triathlon, who will be playing for everything in this final with the arrival in their ranks of world No. 2 Mario Mola! The announcement of his signing last August had attracted all the attention to the club, currently 5th overall. Indeed, the Spaniard will be strengthening the already strong Mons team since he will be accompanied in this final by Léo Bergère (Member of the French World and European Champion Mixed Relay Teams), the Portuguese Joao Pereira (Silver Medalist at the European Championships), the Spaniard Francesc Godoy, and the young Louis Vitiello (French U23 Champion).
As for Les Sables Vendée Triathlon, which has had a remarkable 2019 season punctuated by 4 consecutive podiums (2nd in Châteauroux and Quiberon; and 3rd in Dunkirk and Muret), the objective will clearly be to keep its place on the final podium despite a less strong team than in the previous stages. However, we will find the Belgian Jelle Geens (Winner of the WTS in Montreal and 3rd at the European Championships in Weert), the Azerbaijani Rostyslav Pevtsov (2nd – European Cup in Dnipro), and the Ukrainian Ivan Ivanov. The French Jocelyn Mourier and Antoine Muller will complete this team.
The Triathlon Club de Liévin, currently 3rd in the provisional ranking, will try as best it can to maintain its place on the podium. With this rain of champions announced on La Baule, the Liévin team must not be more than two places behind the Montois on this last stage; if they want to keep their place on the podium. The team will be composed of Raphaël Montoya (2nd – Karlovy Vary World Cup), the Austrian Alois Knabl (2nd in Quiberon), the Australian Brandon Copeland (5th – U23 World Championship), the Swiss Andrea Salvisberg, and the Belgian Christophe De Keyser.
Finally, on the Montpellier side, we will be able to count on a 100% French team led by its 2018 European Champion, Pierre Le Corre (winner of the Quiberon Grand Prix). He will be accompanied by his French compatriots Simon Viain (6th – Madrid World Cup) and Quentin Barreau. Not forgetting, Cenzino Lebot who will make his first steps on the Grand Prix and Paul Dellong, who, on the occasion of this last stage joins the bench of the regulars.
Also noteworthy is the presence in La Baule of the 2019 World Champion: Vincent Luis, who will be keen to win the stage individually and allow his club (Ste Geneviève Triathlon), currently provisionally 12th overall, to move up the rankings.
The clubs in danger are Tricastin Triathlon Club, CRV Lyon Triathlon and Vitrolles Triathlon, in relegation position.
PROVISIONAL GENERAL RANKING BEFORE THE FINAL
PROGRAM
Saturday, September 21
17:00 p.m. – Grand Prix Final – Women
18:30 p.m. – Grand Prix Final – Men
(Source: FFTRI press release)
