McCarthy Finishes in Top Ten at WTPS Leeds

A huge weekend of international triathlon kicked off today with the AJ Bell 2021 World Triathlon Para Series Leeds. High temperatures in Roundhay Park and a technical sprint distance course made for a tough day’s racing for Team Ireland.

Donnacha McCarthy and guide Paul Carroll rose to the challenge and finished with a solid performance to kick off their first big block of racing for 2021, 9th in the PTVI category.

Also racing were Mark Millar and Aidan McGlynn. In the PTWC race, Mark Millar was forced to withdraw after a crash on the bike course. Mark is thankfully uninjured and looks forward to racing again in France in a few week’s time. In a stacked PTS5 field, Aidan McGlynn made his return to international racing, finishing 14th. Aidan also races in France and will be looking to build on his race experience during the next few months.

View the results on triathlon.org.

McCarthy shows Form in Season Opener

Aiming for Paralympic Qualification Donnacha McCarthy was hoping to finish inside the top ten today in a world class field, and he succeeded!

Speaking after his race, McCarthy was pleased to be back racing on the tough Leeds course;

“It was great to get back racing after such a long break out. Just good to get that feeling of racing back under the belt again.”

“It was a really challenging course out there today but did absolutely fantastic with Paul (Carroll).”

Donnacha and guide Paul Carroll were racing together for the first time, and they got into a good rhythm on the technical 20km bike course. Out on the run, Donnacha and Paul showed pace and were gaining on eventual eighth placed Anatoli Varfolomieiev (UKR). The finish line came just a few hundred metres too soon however, and McCarthy and Carroll finished just 19 seconds behind Varfolomieiev.

“Swim wise just pushed hard on the swim and once we got out on the bike then it maybe just took us a lap or so to get into a rhythm. Then out on the run, ran really well and was closing down on the guys ahead of me. Unfortunately I just didn’t have enough ground left at the end just to get that last spot.”

It’s all to play for over the next month where all important points are on offer for Paralympic qualification. Donnacha McCarthy will be able to take confidence built in today’s solid performance forward for his next two races;

“There’s still two races left now so one down, two to go.”

Up Next

Up next for Donnacha McCarthy, Aidan McGlynn and Mark Millar is the 2021 World Triathlon Para Cup Besancon on the 13th of June.

Tomorrow in Leeds

Carolyn Hayes and Russell White continue their quest for Olympic Qualification at AJ Bell World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds.

Read the Race Preview here.

Tune in from 1pm on BBC2 and on triathlonlive.tv.