High Performance Development Pathway
performance assessments
The inaugural Triathlon Ireland Performance Assessments took place over the weekend of 21st March acting as an important precursor for athletes preparing to attend the British Performance Assessments (BPAs) in Nottingham this April.
The IPAs form a key component of the High Performance Development Pathway. These assessments provide athletes with an opportunity to assess and evaluate their performance across all three triathlon disciplines within a race-style environment. This structured format is designed to support athlete progression and prepare individuals for the demands of international competition.
The approach mirrors well-established assessment models used by leading federations such as French Triathlon Federation and British Triathlon, where performance assessments are often used to inform selection for Youth and Junior Competitions for the current season.
Read more about Key Pathway Dates here.
Why Performance Assessments Matter
Performance Assessments are a valuable tool for developing young triathletes. They help to:
- Accurately determine current fitness and skills levels
- Measure progress over time
- Evaluate the effectiveness of training programmes
- Simulate race environments and international race formats
- Develop race craft and tactical awareness
- Identify areas for improvement and refinement
By creating a consistent and performance focused testing environment, the Triathlon Ireland High Performance Pathway Coaching team can help athletes make informed decisions to support long-term development.
The Assessment Format
The assessment followed a structured format designed to replicate race demands and capture key performance data across swim, bike and run.
The swim assessment took place on Sunday morning in the form of a time trial in Omagh Leisure Centre. Athletes then traveled to Enniskillen airport to take part in a pursuit-style transition, bike and run race, with athletes starting in the order of their ranking after the swim event.
Warm-Up
Athletes begin with a thorough warm-up to prepare for maximal efforts and ensure accurate results.
Swim Performance Assessment
The swim test focuses on sustained pacing and efficiency:
- Time Trial: After a warm-up, athletes swim set distance at race effort
- Outcome: Swim pace is calculated providing valuable feedback on skills and race pacing
Bike Performance Assessment
After a familiarisation of the course, athletes commenced the next stage of assessment in a pursuit-style format. Commencing their 50m dash into T1 based on their earlier swim time. Their ability to bike in draft-legal format was assessed and developed.
Run Performance Assessment
Following the bike test, athletes took on a run time trial designed to assess speed, pacing, running in a group and endurance.
Looking Ahead
The next step for many athletes is the British Performance Assessments, taking place on 18–19 April in Nottingham.
These assessments provide an opportunity to utilise the same testing format against a wider field and gain exposure to a higher-performance environment. Triathlon Ireland is preparing to send their largest group to date to the BPAs in 2026.
High Performance Pathway coaches continue to work closely with athletes in preparation for this event and we wish everyone making the trip a safe, enjoyable and successful experience.
Find out about the BPA’s here.
Building for the Future
Triathlon Ireland aims to further develop and expand this format and establish this as a regular format for development, benchmarking and potential selection for international events.
A call for support
The leisure centre and aerodrome facilities used for the IPAs in March proved to be an excellent fit for this type of activity. Triathlon Ireland is now seeking additional suitable venues across the island of Ireland to support future Performance Assessments.
Ideal venues would include traffic-free, safe cycling environments that allow athletes to develop race craft and technical skills in preparation for international racing.
If you are aware of a suitable location or facility that may be interested in supporting the High Performance Pathway, please reach out to a member of the HP Pathway team laura@triathlonireland.com
