Schomburg: Triathlon left frustrated by coronavirus impact

Jonas Schomburg revealed this week he’s been left frustrated and disappointed by the impact coronavirus is having on the 2020 triathlon event calendar.

The 26-year-old German was one of around 25 athletes currently racing in Super League set to take part in WTS’s season opener in Abu Dhabi last weekend before it was postponed.

Sporting events across the world have continued to either be postponed or cancelled due to the spread of the virus.

Schomburg admitted he and other Super League stars have been left waiting to see what happens with their race schedules in the coming weeks:

It is having a huge influence.
A number of athletes had focused on doing all the preparation for WTS Abu Dhabi with the heat chambers preparing for the conditions only to find three four days before that they had postponed the race. Now we have had to change our plans. I have had one week of easier training, now I am starting to ramp it up again as I focus on competing in the World Cup event in Brazil and the WTS event in Bermuda.Nothing is safe. I had planned to do a 10k run in Cann, France, but that also got cancelled due to the coronavirus. It is very disappointing, but it is safety first for everyone and will see what happens.

Despite the disruptions the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup did go ahead on Saturday (14th March) with a series of Super League athletes shining in the elite field to take podium places.

Vicky Holland and Georgia Taylor-Brown dominated to ensure a British one-two over the sprint distance in Australia with native Ashleigh Gentle taking third.

Further down the field Emma Jeffcoat (6th), Nicole Van Der Kaay (12th), Olivia Mathias (19th), Kerry Morris (33rd).

Meanwhile New Zealander Hayden Wilde bounced back from a training crash on Friday to finish second behind fellow countryman Ryan Sissons with other Super League racers Matthew Hauser (8th), Ryan Bailie (16th), Matthew Sharpe (19th) and Alex Yee (37th).

Watch more from our exclusive interview with Jonas Schomburg on our latest Power Up Show