Tyler Mislawchuk beat the heat and all but one of the 68 athletes in the World Triathlon Cup field to win the silver medal on Saturday in Edmonton. This 2nd place finish marks his 10th World Cup podium of his triathlon career.
The 31-year-old from Oak Bluff, Manitoba, lived up to his billing while taking the world’s best through a swim, bike and run in Edmonton’s river valley. Mislawchuk secured the silver medal by .01 seconds at 52:20 following a four-man sprint finish.
“We put on a good show. That’s about as good as it gets. There are so many guys so close in triathlon right now,” said Mislawchuk after picking himself up at the finish line. “I would have loved to have won at home but that’s the sport, seconds here and there. But anytime you are on a podium, it’s pretty darn good. I can’t complain.”
Great Britain’s Solomon Okrafo-Smart won the epic photo finish at 52:20. Reese Vannerson, of the United States, locked up third place behind Mislawchuk.
It was the 10th World Triathlon Cup podium of Mislawchuk’s impressive career. One of the most accomplished Canadian triathletes became the only Canadian male to win a World Triathlon Championship Series podium when he battled to the bronze on Canadian turf in Montreal (2019). He also won the Olympic Test event prior to the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Mislawchuk came out of the 750-metre swim in the heart of Hawrelak Park in sixth pace. He quickly settled into a pack of 17 that broke away on the bike course, leading many of the world’s best triple-sport specialists on the 20-kilometre technical ride out of the park down Emily Murphy Park Road, through Saskatchewan Drive and the University District before crossing the Groat Bridge to make their way back into the stadium.
A massive pack of nearly 50 riders came together in the third and final lap on the bike to set up a foot race to the finish.
“My legs were not good at the start of the ride. But it’s different racing at home. Every 30 meters out there I saw someone I knew. There were so many Tylers out there. Usually, I’m pretty good in the heat, but I felt it a lot today. You just got to find a way. I dug as deep as I have in any race today so I’m proud of the effort.”
