A strong team of eight athletes and three guides are set to pull on the British trisuit and compete at the World Triathlon Para Championships in Abu Dhabi on Friday 5 November.
Representing Britain will be a team with a mix of experience at this level. The likes of Paralympic medallists from Tokyo Claire Cashmore (PTS5) and from Rio Alison Peasgood (PTVI), guided by Brooke Gillies, will be joined by a handful of world championship first-timers in Oscar Kelly (PTVI), guided by Charlie Harding, Katie Crowhurst (PTVI), guided by Grace France, and Finley Jakes (PTS4).
The remainder of the team competing in the UAE all competed this summer for ParalympicsGB in Tokyo. Fran Brown (PTS2), Michael Taylor (PTS4) and Dave Ellis (PTVI), guided by Luke Pollard.
The event is based around the Yas Marina, with the route taking athletes around the marina circuit. Following a 750m swim in the marina, competitors will complete a 20km bike leg made up of four laps on the circuit’s track before ending with a 5km run.
All the world championship action will take place on Friday morning, with the first classification starting at 08:00 local time (GMT+4) and classifications setting off separately throughout the morning.
Following its postponement last year due to Covid-19, this is the first Paratriathlon World Championships since the 2019 edition in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2019, the British team won seven medals including three golds, with Cashmore, Brown and Hannah Moore being crowned world champions.
Ellis will also be looking to medal for the second championships in a row having claimed silver in Lausanne.
Claire Cashmore, speaking about defending her title, said: “It is definitely something I’ve thought about, you want to retain that title, you still want to be reigning world champion. It’ll be really good to stand up against the best in the world and see what’s there.
“Unfortunately, Lauren Steadman’s not racing which is a shame because it would have been great to go head-to-head again, but Grace Norman who won the silver medal in Tokyo will be there so it’ll be great to see what she’s got.”
Paratriathlon Head Coach, Jonathon Riall, said ahead of the World Championships: “With the uncertainties caused by Covid-19, it’s great that we’ve got a world championships taking place to give the athletes the opportunity to compete on the international stage once again.
“Taking place at the end of the year and after the Paralympic Games, there are a few athletes who haven’t travelled with us, however, it has meant that some of our younger athletes have been able to have the opportunity to race at the highest level and be part of a travelling group with some more experienced members who’ll be looking to end the year on a high.”
