The season slows down but the points remain the same

Final races of 2023 Season

Approaching the end of the World Triathlon year, while the big names may be on their off-season breaks, the points scores for Continental and World Cups remain the same as ever. This means there is still a lot of travelling being done in the chase for success, Paris qualification, experience going into the LA 4 year cycle and meeting National Federation or sponsor targets.

Looking at the entries there are also multiple changes of plan and last minute decisions being made, some athletes still being on start lists for 2 races on the same day. The current World Number 66, and holding the European New Flag slot for Paris, Felix Duchampt is on the start list for Chile this weekend followed by either Morocco or China the following week and China again the week after. 

Strike Rate

Duchampt is an interesting athlete to look at on the circuit.  Of his 94 Elite race finishes he has been Top 10 in half of them. He has competed in 40 World Cups but only 4 top level World Series races in his career. Of those World Cups he has 9 Top 5 placings. To go with all the top results, 6 Continental Cup wins as well, there are almost as many finishes towards the bottom of the sheet. This is someone with a very particular skill, he runs very quickly. He is not as fast as the superstars, although he seldom races them, but he will outrun most of the athletes he comes up against. However his swim, or lack of at elite level, often leaves him chasing and along with most at elite level staying in a bunch on the bike is not a problem but closing to it is seldom an option.

Mentality

Without knowing him personally I think it is safe to say that he must have a good mental ability to focus on and maximise opportunities and move on quickly, psychologically, from the bad days. Knowing as you jog to the start there is a 50% chance of a Top 10 must help. Looking at his program for the next 3 weeks, whichever races he choses, it's a solid bet there will be at least 1 Top 5. 

If you are a run dominant athlete it's well worth looking at similar athletes and how they chose their races, which they do and don't do, and importantly move on from the bad days of which there will likely be many in draft legal racing.