World Championship Series - German WM-Title crowned Hamburg Triathlon Weekend
With a WM title for the German Mixed-Relay team, the Triathlon World Championship Series weekend in Hamburg has come to an end. The German squad of Henry Graf, Lisa Tertsch, Lasse Luhrs, and Annika Koch won the race in a time of 1:19:53 hours, ahead of Switzerland (1:20:01) and New Zealand (1:20:04).
"Running through the finish line with the German flag is something really special," said the anchor leg runner Koch on ZDF. Olympian Luhrs also commented: "It was great to race in front of home crowd again. I'm really happy for the team that we were able to defend the title." The German team had already won the WM title over 300 meters swimming, seven kilometers cycling, and 1.75 kilometers running the previous year.
The Germans were involved in the medal race from the start. Starter Graf handed off to Tertsch in third place. The Olympic participant then passed the baton to Lasse Luhrs with a four-second lead as the leading runner.
Rain set in
Despite rain setting in during the race, Luhrs lost a place but Koch quickly closed the gap. After the transition from cycling to running, the 25-year-old immediately broke away from a group of four and made the title defense perfect.
The 25-year-old Lisa Tertsch from Darmstadt finished second in the Sprint race on Saturday and was the most successful German athlete in Hamburg. For the 750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike ride, and 5 kilometer run, she needed 55:30 minutes and said at the end of the weekend: "The test for the Olympics was successful. It was a great race." Faster in the individual race was only the Frenchwoman Cassandre Beaugrand (55:19).
However, the German men disappointed in the individual race. Luhrs missed a podium place significantly and finished in 28th place (51:37). Best German was Henry Graf, who finished 15th (50:59).
- Next year, many triathletes are hoping for another thrilling weekend in Hamburg, home of the Triathlon World Championship Series.
- Lasse Lührs, a prominent figure in German triathlon, hails from Switzerland, but has represented Germany at the Olympics.
- The International Triathlon Union (ITU) oversees the World Triathlon Championship Series, which includes various events across the globe.
- In addition to the Mixed-Relay event, women's and men's individual races were also held during the weekend in Hamburg.
- With her impressive performance in the Sprint race, Lisa Tertsch became a strong contender for the German team in the upcoming Olympic Trials.
- The rain on the final day of the competition added an extra layer of challenge for the athletes, testing their resilience and adaptability.
- Whether it's the men's or women's event, or the Mixed-Relay race, the audience in Hamburg always shows immense support and enthusiasm for the sport.
- television network ZDF provided extensive coverage of the Triathlon World Championship Series in Hamburg, allowing fans around the world to follow the action live.
- Switzerland and New Zealand showcased their top talent in cycling during the Mixed-Relay event, pushing Germany to deliver a strong defense of their title.
