Cameron Wurf

The Australian, who turns 40 next year, has spent the past two years riding for leading cycling team Ineos Grenadiers, but has also kept his hand in triathlon, entering – and even winning – professional Ironman races when he’s had a spare weekend to play with.

Wurf is a unique character. Having competed as a lightweight rower in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the Tasmanian spent the next decade forging a career in professional cycling.

But it is since taking a year out and then embarking on professional triathlon in 2016 that he has risen to prominence. Immediately one of the best cyclists in the sport, he became renowned for his colossal race schedule – starting nine Ironmans in 2017, including victory in Ironman Wales in September.

It is on the Big Island of Hawaii where Wurf has really left his mark. Racing there three times from 2017-2019 he has improved on each occasion from 17^th to ninth and then fifth, with the fastest bike split each time – his best of 4:09:06 in 2018 breaking the course record he’d set the previous year.

Wurf isn’t just a cyclist who can swim and run a bit though. He has developed the first and third legs alongside his formidable talents on two wheels and now consistently posts sub-3-hour marathons, with a best of 2:45:02 from Ironman Italy in 2019 – a race he won by more than 16 minutes.

This year Wurf has mainly been focused on domestique duties for Ineos Grenadiers – one notable outing being in the spring classic of Paris Roubaix where he helped Ineos team-mate Dylan van Baarle to victory. But he still found time to race in the first Ironman World Championship of 2022 in Utah (where again he set the fastest bike split), and finish second in Spain to qualify again for Hawaii in October.

What Wurf doesn’t have is much experience in short course racing. His one appearance in a World Cup race in the Dominican Republic in 2019 was a chastening experience that saw him distanced in the swim, and eventually finish over 10 minutes behind USA’s Matt McElroy. But having stated he believes he can improve until he hits 45, and never one to turn down a challenge, his cameo in Super League baptism of fire – and speed – will be worth tuning in for.