With the news of Super League Triathlon’s (SLT) 2018-19 season schedule released last week, the new professional triathlon league has presented the pro athletes who have already qualified for the 2018-19 season. Setting up a potential ‘changing of the guard’, the organising team notes that there are 20 spots still up for grabs at the SLT Qualifiers in Poland (29 June to 1 July) and Canada (17-19 August).
Many of the sport of triathlon’s best and brightest young talent, including Matthew Hauser (AUS), Henri Schoeman (RSA) and Melanie Santos (POR) will be going head-to-head with some of the biggest names and most accomplished triathletes of our time: double gold Olympic medallist Alistair Brownlee (GBR) and two-time ITU World Champion Flora Duffy (BER) – fresh from her sensational WTS Bermuda win at home this past weekend – are both fit and on fine form, ready for title contention.
Last year’s SLT Champion Richard Murray (RSA) will also be back this season to defend his crown. The series challenges the top 50 athletes from around the triathlon world to see who is the very best all-round male and female triathlete of the season. With a talented mix of youth versus experience, SLT is positioned as a perfect platform to witness a potential ‘changing of the guard’ in triathlon.
Last year’s first ever Super League Triathlon Female Champion Katie Zaferes (USA) is back this season, seeking to retain her title. She said “One of my favourite things about triathlon is travelling to gorgeous places; and Super League Triathlon has really delivered on that. Racing in Jersey last year was such a cool experience – the crowd was phenomenal! This new format of triathlon is so unpredictable and makes it super entertaining to watch. I’m excited for the big turnout and to see what I can do when it launches in September.”
Spanish ITU World Series Champion Mario Mola will be looking for the top spot at this season’s Championship after conceding to last year’s winner Richard Murray, and settling for second place in the series overall last time around. He said “Super League Triathlon is full of the unexpected, which is what makes it so exciting for the athletes and people watching. I’m back this year to fight for the win!”
With medal success on the Gold Coast earlier this year and as reigning ITU Junior World Champion, Australia’s Matthew Hauser is one to watch this Super League season. “I’m still buzzing from my mixed relay gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and I’m just focusing on bringing that energy to SLT this season,” he said. “I’ll be going up against some of the most established names in the sport, but I’m in for the win and looking for that title.”
After a globally televised pilot last year, 2018’s event-packed season will take many of the world’s greatest triathletes to Jersey (29-30 September), Malta (27-28 October), Mallorca (3-4 November), Singapore (23-24 February 2019) and Australia (16-17 March 2019).
SLT co-founder, holder of two ITU World Championships and two-time IRONMAN Champion Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack said “It’s great to be back this year with a full series of racing after the mega success of the two pilot events in 2017. With this innovative format of multi-day, mixed discipline, high intensity racing, we want to build a professional league for athletes to aspire to that shapes the commercial landscape for them as athletes but also speaks the language and entertains a wider audience.
“Global TV distribution, the world’s best athletes and the sport’s biggest paydays. Buckle up for some monumental clashes!”
Here is the 2018-19 SLT athlete roster to date, with further Championship ‘Golden Ticket’ slots still to fight for at the Super League Triathlon Qualifiers in Poznan and Penticton:
Male line-up
Richard Murray (RSA)
Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
Mario Mola (ESP)
Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)
Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS)
Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
Matthew Hauser (AUS)
Richard Varga (SVK)
Ryan Bailie (AUS)
Henri Schoeman (RSA)
Alessandro Fabian (ITA)
João Pereira (POR)
Vincent Luis (FRA)
Female line-up
Katie Zaferes (USA)
Flora Duffy (BER)
Summer Cook (USA)
Nicola Spirig (SUI)
Kirsten Kasper (USA)
Jodie Stimpson (GBR)
Sophie Coldwell (GBR)
Claire Michel (BEL)
Rachel Klamer (NED)
Carolina Routier (ESP)
Charlotte McShane (AUS)
Melanie Santos (POR)
Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
Super League Triathlon 2018-19 season schedule:
Qualifier Races:
Poznan – 29 June-01 July 2018
Penticton – 17-19 August 2018
Championship Races:
Jersey – 29-30 September 2018
Malta – 27-28 October 2018
Mallorca – 03-04 November 2018
Singapore – 23-24 February 2019
Australia – 16-17 March 2019
www.superleaguetriathlon.com
www.superleaguepoznan.com
www.superleaguecanada.com
