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Francis And Parker Prevail In Paris Test Event ‘Duathlon’

Francis And Parker Prevail In Paris Test Event ‘Duathlon’
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Australian Para-triathletes emerged with two gold medals and one silver medal from the World Para Cup in Paris after a decision hours before the start to drop the River Seine swim from the event turned the race into a run-bike-run format.

Lauren Parker, a particularly strong swimmer, changed her mindset to maintain her remarkable unbeaten record of the past two years in the PTWC, while Anu Francis continued her ascent in the women’s PTS2 class, conquering some big reputations to break through for a big win.

Sam Harding and guide Harry Wiles snatched a deserved second-place in the PTVI class.

Parker said being able to adapt to the revised format was important.

“It was such a challenging course, lots to think about but I am super happy to take the win today,” Parker said.

“Dealing with the rain and then the slipperiness of the cobblestones gives me a lot of confidence leading into 2024.”

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It was Parker’s sixth win over US rival and defending Paralympic champion Kendall Gretsch.

“Lauren’s biking is going well as we saw last week at the World Cycling Championships and the margin stayed pretty stable throughout the bike and the second run leg,” Para-triathlon Performance Manager Kyle Burns said.

“It didn’t move a lot, which is promising, and she went about the race the way Lauren goes about it.”

The course gave a spectacular preview to the setting for the Paris Paralympics, taking in the Champs Elysees, Boulevard Saint-Germain, the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Sacre Coeur and the Arc de Triomphe.

Burns said the team was pleased to leave Paris with useful information.

“The thing that was unique was that we didn’t come here with too much expectation, but to take away as many lessons as we could,” he said.

“It was a course that we absolutely had to learn from, a course we thought was fairly flat but we found it’s got some undulation in it, plus the corners and the cobbles that all play a part.

“But in saying that we had some great results, particularly for Anu and another great result for Lauren off the back of her gold and silver at the Cycling World Champs.

“For Sam to get silver, it was good for him as well, with Harry Wiles, who only came into his role as Sam’s guide this week. He did well to get Sam around.”

World Triathlon Para Cup Paris Results

1st – Lauren Parker (PTWC)
1st – Anu Francis (PTS2)
2nd – Sam Harding (PTVI) Guide: Harry Wiles
4th – Sally Pilbeam (PTS4)
4th – Justin Godfrey (PTS3)
5th – David Bryant (PTS5)
6th – Jeremy Peacock (PTS4)
9th – Jack Howell (PTS5)

By Paralympics Australia and Triathlon Australia
Posted: 21 August 2023
Imagery: World Triathlon