McCarthy, Miller & McGlynn at World Para Series Leeds

This weekend three Team Ireland paratriathletes will be on the start line at AJ Bell 2021 World Triathlon Para Series Leeds. Racing on Saturday, the trio of Aidan McGlynn, Donnacha McCarthy and Mark Millar will be taking on some of the best in the world in the highly competitive fields.

The sprint distance course at Leeds is very technical and will be challenging for the team, with a host of turnarounds on course.

With qualification open for the Tokyo Paralympics, and all important points on offer, all three will be hoping for solid performances according to Triathlon Ireland Paratriathlon Technical Director Eamonn Tilley;

“Ultimately their goal is to try and qualify for the Paralympic Games. What they need to do is rank themselves within the top ten this weekend. Looking at the race lists, we have who would be projected to be racing in Tokyo, excluding one or two. The fields will be rated really, really strong so definitely they will be up against it for all three athletes.”

McCarthy in Points Hunt

For Donnacha McCarthy, this race signals his first race in 18 months where Paralympic qualifying points are on the line. Donnacha and guide Paul Carroll will start in the PTVI category on Saturday, against some of the best in the world. Triathlon Ireland Paratriathlon Technical Director Eamonn Tilley says;

“This is his first race (this year), he hasn’t raced at all so ultimately any performance is a good performance as far as I’m concerned…we haven’t even had a chance to race at national level.”

“If his swim is sub 12 I would expect him to be coming out in the first pack in the water.”

McCarthy has three races in which to gain points and performances which will secure a Paralympic spot.

“What he has to do now is finish ahead of anybody who is ranked inside the top ten in the Paralympic rankings, excluding podium results. If he gets a podium finish, or top five in a World Series race, that would be big points.”

Millar in Second Race of the Year

Starting his season in Yokohama a few weeks back, Mark Millar continues his journey to qualify for Tokyo. Racing in the PTWC category tomorrow, Triathlon Ireland Paratriathlon Technical Director Eamonn Tilley outlines what we might expect from Mark during tomorrow’s race;

“If everything goes well we should expect him out of the water in the first pack and onto the bike. “

“We’re looking at him finishing inside the top ten, considering the weight of the field is extremely strong.”

In just his second season of international paratriathlon, Millar has made significant progress;

“This will be his fifth event at an international level which is absolutely fantastic and considering where he has come from in a short space of time. His long term projectile is Paris and he’s definitely moving in that direction. Every race he races, he shows performance increases.”

Aidan McGlynn makes International Return in Leeds

Returning to international racing for the first time tomorrow after a break due to injury, Aidan McGlynn will be building back into race form in the PTS5 category. Eamonn outlines Aidan’s goals;

“His goal is to try and go to the games, there’s no if’s or but’s about it.”

In order to achieve that goal Aidan will have three races, including Leeds, to test his form and earn valuable points.

“So, the goal for Aidan is to maintain that continuum, Europeans, Worlds, World Cups over the next while and see how he performs.”

How to Watch

You can watch the action live from 14.00 this Saturday on TriathlonLIVE.tv and at 15.30 on the BBC Red Button.