Teams Talk: Tim Don On The SLT Eagles

Tim Don is in confident mood ahead of the start of the Super League Triathlon Championship Series.

The four-time World Champion believes his SLT Eagles team are set to be title challengers with a Brit heavy line-up featuring Olympic medalists Jess Learmonth, Vicky Holland and Alex Yee.

TONIGHT: Tim Don Lets Us Into His Team Meeting In London On Super League’s Instagram Channel

SLT Eagles: Jess Learmonth, Taylor Spivey, Vicky Holland, Vittoria Lopes, Alex Yee, Seth Rider, Max Studer, Marco van der Stel.

The data suggests Tim has drafted one of the strongest teams in the field.

Here, Tim talks us through his SLT Eagles:

team overview

I am so happy with my SLT Eagles team. You never know how it will go in the draft but I got a couple of Olympic medalists as well as people who are still hungry for the season like Taylor and Vicky. Young Max has had a fantastic season so far and I think he will jump on the gun here.

strengths

The women will be making that lead pack. Jess loves going out from the gun, Taylor is always up there and so savvy on the bike and this format suits her down to the ground. Vittoria from Brazil can build the momentum coming back down from altitude in Colorado. I think we will work well together.

Alex Yee is the athlete in form and the first race in London will hopefully set him up and the crowd will be behind him.

team tactics

People race for themselves but I want them to be aware of each other, and those small things you can do looking out for each other on the bike and the run, going into corners and not running each other off the road.

I don’t think we can work together perse, I don’t see that’s how it’s going, but be conscious of each other.

management style

It will be a relaxed style. I am looking to get the most out of each individual athlete and that means being a diverse manager, someone who can say something different and really get the best out of them come race day.

Also we are away on the road for a month so it’s about managing their expectations and not blowing everything in the first two races. It’s a long haul with four races back-to-back at this intensity. No one has put this kind of Series together before so I am looking forward to looking after their mental side as well so going into the last race they are really singing.

how will SLT Teams will change the race dynamics?

I think it will be a massive shift. Maybe not the first race or the second race but come Jersey and Malibu people will have their eyes on the Eagles, how we are gelling as a team and using each other’s strengths and helping each other’s weaknesses.

I am really excited for it and I think we have a great balance and we are going to have fun out there. I don’t want to lead a tour, I want to be a part of the team and be there for the athletes whether it’s getting them water before the race or an ice vest after the race or throwing them a bottle of champagne to celebrate their success.