Super League Mallorca: Men’s Triple Mix – Can The French Revolution Be Halted?

The men’s Triple Mix on day one of Super League Triathlon (SLT) Mallorca is complete, and we had racing from the word GO!

Stage 1 (swim-bike-run) saw Henri Schoeman gain time in the swim, and hold off the chasing group of favourites though the bike into the run. Vincent Luis dropped a chain on the bike costing him some time, eventually finishing sixth. Pre-race the Maltese Falcon (Hayden Wilde) had stated he wanted a podium this weekend, and he started well, finishing just behind Schoeman in second. Jonny Brownlee rounded off the podium in third.

After a ten minute break it was time for Stage 2 (run-bike-swim), this time it was newcomer Marten Van Riel who crossed the line first, maybe his fresh legs coming into the weekend paid off. Brownlee lost out in the rush to the line, but finished second behind Van Riel, with Schoeman showing his consistent form in third place. Schoeman was building a nice buffer to Luis going into the final Stage, where the athletes are set off using their time deficits from Stage 1 and 2.

Ten minutes later it was time for the final show down with Stage 3 of the Triple Mix (bike-swim-run), the athletes set off depending on the time deficit they’ve built up on the previous stages, so Schoeman was to set off first. It was looking like it was going to be his day, but the field were intent of chasing hard throughout. Schoeman held them off through the bike, and had the chance to show his class in the water, stretching his lead going into the run. Now it was just a case of not blowing up before the line, and Schoeman would cross the line first. He did just that, taking the first days racing and the Triple Mix crown! Luis beat Brownlee in a sprint to the line rounding off the podium for the first day’s racing.

Schoeman had complained of being ill pre-race, and is hoping to hold his form going into the second day. 

“I just have to look after the body tonight, and make sure I come back tomorrow just as strong. Hopefully there is no fever tonight, so I’m in good shape tomorrow. Luis made a mistake on the bike which I think really cost his race today, so I got a gap, and if I get a gap I can use my strength in the water. On this course it doesn’t matter if you’re out in front, or chasing, everyone is working just as hard as everyone else.”

Tomorrow sees two early morning heats to decide who gets through to the main Sprint Enduro Stage 2 in the afternoon. Schoeman will be hoping to not get any more ill, and Luis will be looking to build on today’s second place, and go one step higher. How will it unfold in Porto Cristo? That’s the beauty of SLT, we will not know until we know!

Stage 1

  1. Henri Schoeman
  2. Hayden Wilde
  3. Jonny Brownlee

Stage 2

  1. Marten Van Riel
  2. Jonny Brownlee
  3. Henri Schoeman

Overall Standings

  1. Henri Schoeman
  2. Vincent Luis
  3. Jonny Brownlee
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