2024 World Cross Triathlon Championships promise brutal racing in Townsville

by Ben Eastman on 19 Aug, 2024 04:53 • Español
2024 World Cross Triathlon Championships promise brutal racing in Townsville

The World Multisport Championships are heading off-road. Following the elite duathlon action across Friday and Sunday, cross triathlon will be the next sport on offer in Townsville and the athletes will be taking on a particularly exciting course. Opening proceedings will be a 1km sea swim. Helpfully, the crocodiles of the area have migrated north for the winter in search of warmer climes.

Next up will be a 20.5km bike course with several sharp climbs, including one larger one around the 18km mark that could catch a few out. To conclude, the athletes will complete a two-lap 6km run replete with some steep ascents and treacherous descents. It will not be a race for the faint-hearted by any means. Read on to find out who some of the key names to watch might be.


Elite women

Sandra Mairhofer will not be in Townsville after winning the world title in this event last year. Indeed, none of the podium from Ibiza return. In their place, one name to watch may be Marta Menditto (ITA). The Italian athlete claimed the European title in 2023. She also managed a result of 6th place in Ibiza. With no international results in 2024, her form is a little hard to gauge but should she arrive in top form she will be a sturdy opponent.

Carina Wasle (AUT) finished 4th at the European Cross Championships earlier this year and could potentially build on that result. The Austrian champion has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career across the multisport disciplines and actually won the European Cross title in 2010 and the World Winter Triathlon crown in 2009.

Charlotte McShane (AUS) continues her multisport odyssey in Townsville. She placed 7th in the individual duathlon event after feeling unwell in the morning of the race. With tomorrow’s race to be opened with a more familiar swim start, she might threaten the podium. Elsewhere, McShane’s compatriot Kate Bramley (AUS) won the Oceania title in her last international appearance in 2020. Another starter in Townsville, Jacqueline Allen (GBR), finished 2nd at the same event in the Snowy Mountains and likewise not back since. On their days, both Bramley and Allen could tear up the off-road course.


Elite men

In the elite men’s race, the defending champion Felix Forrissier will not be competing. His absence therefore opens the door for Lukas Kocar (CZE) to upgrade his silver medal from last year. Kocar also added a silver medal at the 2023 European Cross Championships and so has proven his ability at the highest level. That being said, he has not raced internationally in 2024 and his form does carry a slight question mark.

Meanwhile, Michele Bonacina (ITA) arrives in a similar position to his fellow Italian Menditto. Bonacina won the European Cross Triathlon title in 2023 and finished 7th at the World Championships. However, at the 2024 edition of the European Championships Bonacina slipped to 7th place. The field also contains a mixture between experienced hands like Ben Allen (AUS) and up and coming contenders like Hugo Jan Bosscher (NED). On a challenging course, one mishap could reshape the race and the field is more than capable of exploiting the presentation of any such opportunity.


Stay up to date with all the latest from Townsville across all World Triathlon channels.

Related Event: 2024 World Triathlon Cross Triathlon Championships Townsville
20 Aug, 2024 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Men
1. Michele Bonacina ITA 01:26:23
2. Sam Osborne NZL 01:28:12
3. Benjamin Forbes AUS 01:28:32
4. Kieran McPherson NZL 01:28:56
5. Sebastien Carabin BEL 01:30:15
Results: Elite Women
1. Marta Menditto ITA 01:40:59
2. Romy Spoelder NED 01:41:17
3. Maeve Kennedy AUS 01:41:50
4. Jacqueline Allen GBR 01:43:58
5. Carina Wasle AUT 01:44:41
Results: U23 Men
1. Ryno Owen RSA 01:35:50
2. Cooper Carswell AUS 01:38:01
3. Tadgh Williams AUS 01:46:07
Results: U23 Women
1. Romy Spoelder NED 01:41:17
2. Laura Gillard AUS 01:46:47
3. Katja Krenn AUT 01:50:55
4. Constance Dusser FRA 01:59:30
Results: Junior Women
1. Ash Watts AUS 01:09:20
Results: 18-19 Male AG
1. Tom Jenkins AUS 01:47:16
2. Josh Waters AUS 01:57:57
3. Kai Greven AUS 01:58:30
Results: 20-24 Male AG
1. Xander Marsh NZL 01:36:44
2. Khan Nothnagel RSA 01:43:58
3. Jared Havemann AUS 01:58:43
4. Eamon Kriz AUS 01:59:53
5. Harrison Ainslie AUS 02:10:36
Results: 25-29 Male AG
1. Samuel McNaughton AUS 01:37:04
2. Thomas Roberts AUS 01:43:40
3. Lachlan Skinner AUS 01:45:37
4. Matéo Bocquel FRA 01:54:15
Results: 30-34 Male AG
1. Alejandro Pareja Villar ESP 01:35:16
2. Stephen Woodwark NZL 01:36:35
3. Joe Sulis AUS 01:39:58
4. Brendan Scanlan AUS 01:45:43
5. Arthur Henrique Reis BRA 01:47:03
Results: 35-39 Male AG
1. Nick Obrien AUS 01:38:35
2. Wil Kelly AUS 01:42:16
3. Ben Nixon AUS 01:44:34
4. Chris Moore AUS 01:44:37
5. Josh Dew AUS 01:44:52
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