Macca’s Predictions: Can Marten Van Riel Win Again Or Will Alex Yee Steal His Crown?

Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift is back with the first ever esports triathlon World Championship titles on the line.

With athletes earning points from their best event in either Munich this Saturday or London (April 23) and the final in Singapore (May 7), there is a lot on the line.

The women’s field is set to increase in intensity as the Series rolls along, meaning a fast start in Munich could help set up some surprise results in the final reckoning.

In the men’s it’s all on the line from the beginning for some big names.

Who could call it? We asked four-time World Champion Chris McCormack to give us his thoughts.

men: van riel v yee or someone else?

The big names are Marent Van Riel and Alex Yee. Marten has proven himself in these Arena Games, and Alex has done very well and went on to do amazing things at the Olympic Games.

I also think Justus Nieschlag will be right up there. He’s won before and that experience is important.

I am going a little against the grain with my predictions. Marten Van Riel is in a base phase after a big win at Ironman 70.3 Dubai and will use this to get some speed.

He has such a big swim, is very good through transitions and an aggressive biker and that sets his racing up.

I think Justus Nieschlag and Alex Yee will be the next two. I actually think Nieschlag over Yee for second, which I appreciate will be controversial.

My reasoning is only that Nieschlag’s pool swimming expertise is great and his transitions are great. Alex Yee’s ability to run fast is there but we saw in Rotterdam when Nieschlag won that he gets up on that treadmill and runs really well.

I think there will be a blanket over those three.

My outside shots are Chase McQueen, Joao Silva and Gordon Benson, who has phenomenal strength, a big swimmer in Russell White and Max Stapley.

1. Marten Van Riel
2. Justus Nieschlag
3. Alex Yee

women: potter could dominate but opportunities for the rest

The late withdrawal of Jess Learmonth has left the door wide open and you can’t look past Beth Potter. She has really developed her swimming and her pool swimming in particular is really good.

I think Beth will dominate this. A big call, but she won’t lose a lot on the swim. Zsanett Braymayer is a fantastic swimmer but I think Beth can stay close enough.

Anna Godoy finished third in the Arena Games Rotterdam 2021 and I spent some time with her in Jersey last year after we both got struck down by Covid. She is a big believer in the short dynamic racing of Super League and she has experience.

I could throw a blanket over third. It will be competitive. I will go for Braymayer. It is controversial in that she is inexperienced in Arena Games, but I love her swim and she has long legs and we have seen in the men’s and the women’s races that the longer legs can really help with that treadmill.

1. Beth Potter
2. Anna Godoy
3. Zsanett Bragmayer