Barclay Izzard records best World Series finish in front of home crowds at 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series
BySportsbeat
Updated 30/07/2023 at 10:04 GMT
Barclay Izzard finished eighth in the AJ Bell 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland leading a young British pack. "I came out of the water and ended up in the front pack somehow," said the 25-year-old. "I was just chilling there and it was pretty unreal to be in that position when I'm normally the guy chasing behind. I was on the limit the whole time."
Barclay Izzard of Great Britain competes during the World Triathlon Series Sunderland at Roker Beach on July 29, 2023 in Sunderland, England
Image credit: Getty Images
Triathlete Barclay Izzard revelled in a taste of the big time and posted his best World Championship Series result in Sunderland.
Roker Beach welcomed the best triathletes from around the world as well as thousands of amateur participants over a weekend festival of swim, bike, run.
Izzard took his chance, finishing eighth and rubbing shoulders with the likes of world champion Leo Bergere and Commonwealth silver medallist Hayden Wilde on the bike leg.
"I came out of the water and ended up in the front pack somehow," said the 25-year-old. "I was just chilling there and it was pretty unreal to be in that position when I'm normally the guy chasing behind.
"On that bike, I was on the limit the whole time. I found myself in the front pack where I'm not normally, but I just stuck in there and worked as hard as I could."
The lead pack, that also included Britain's WTCS debutant Max Stapley, was caught by the chasers and team-mate Jack Willis with one lap to go on a technical bike course.
It meant a chaotic downhill run into transition onto the bike leg that saw Wilde, Bergere and Pierre Le Corre of France take the lead onto the final 5km run.
Izzard was cheered to a top-10 finish by an adoring home crowd in a time of 54 minutes and 32 seconds, with gold going to Le Corre who outsprinted compatriot Bergere in a thrilling finish.
"The course was insane," said Izzard. "The corners were so sketchy and I was just flying around them holding on for dear life. The hill was good and it was really fun.
"When I came down, there were so many fans there cheering me on and it motivated me to keep going."
Willis placed 20th and Stapley 31st in a strong showing for a British team who were without Olympic champions Alex Yee and Jonny Brownlee, focusing on the upcoming Paris 2024 Test Event.
It was another confidence boost for Izzard in his first full season on the WTCS circuit, having won mixed relay silver on Team GB debut at June's European Games in Krakow.
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