'Totally happy with that one': Calgary para triathlete Stefan Daniel earns first victory of season
MONTREAL — Decorated Canadian para triathlete Stefan Daniel claimed his first victory of the season Saturday in Montreal.
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The 28-year-old Calgarian raced from the front of the pack in the swim, bike and run sprint distance to win the World Triathlon Para Series event.
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Daniel, a six-time world champion and two-time Paralympic medallist, covered the 750-kilometre swim, 20k bike and 5k run in a time of 56 minutes 25 seconds at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
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The Canadian races in the men's PTS5 classification, which is for athletes affected to a low degree on the leg, a moderate level in both forearms, a high degree in one foot and ankle, or have absence of limbs. Daniel was born with club hands.
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Montreal was the fourth of five international races in the para triathlon world series after stops in Devonport, Australia, Yokohama, Japan and Taranto, Italy.
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World champions will be determined in October in Wollongong, Australia.
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Daniel finished second to American Chris Hammer, who was third Saturday, on July 12 in Magog, Que.
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'It was good today. I was totally happy with that one,' Daniel said. 'I didn't have my best effort last week in Magog, so I tried to just have fun with it today and enjoy being back in Montreal.
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'My fitness isn't where I want it to be right now in the bike and the run, so the goal was to commit to having a really good swim.'
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Daniel was among the top three men coming out of the water, which put him in good position for the bike around the Gilles Villeneuve Formula One track.
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''I'm glad I was able to have a good swim and find the front guys. The three of us quickly pulled away from the field,' the Canadian said.
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'Everyone is close on the bike and there are lots of fast runners in the field now so I just wanted to find the feet of the lead pack. I was able to execute the plan.'
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After earning Paralympic silver in 2016 and bronze in 2021, Daniel was front-running in Paris last year when he crashed out during the bike leg.
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'It was a bit of a relief for sure crossing the finish line in first. There has been lots of ups and downs since Paris, and it is normal that you experience a bit of a dip in motivation in the post-Paralympic year,' he said. 'It felt great to know that I was able to battle hard and have a great result heading into this next stretch.'
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