In a fast and tactical Junior men’s race, Oscar Wootton led the Australian charge, finishing a strong ninth against a world-class field. Teammates Zahn Spies (24th) and Oliver Moxon (38th) also showed grit in the tough conditions.
“The swim was tough. We knew it was going to be a hard swim with all the boys around. Then that bike was just a huge pack so it was always just looking to the front and keeping out of trouble. There were a few close calls but that’s racing. That run – it was just all I had. I’m so bloody proud of myself and my team that’s behind me. I just couldn’t thank them enough,” Wootton said.
“As a team we made the decision that we wanted to stay out the front. We knew through that technical section that it was going to be on once we got to the hill so it was just putting ourselves in the best position. All three of us boys – Olly went up the road which was awesome to see – he’s just a youngster so super happy for him to truly show his colours out there. Then Zahn as well, another youngster as well. The boys are coming for me so it’s really nice to have a big team that’s always pushing to the end.”
Spies described the race as hectic with plenty of aggressive riding in the big group up front.
“There were a lot of times I was colliding with people and fighting elbows just through the corners and I knew that, just to avoid crashing or any of those mishaps which there were a lot of close calls, I just had to move up to the front of the race,” he said.
“I’m happy with how I performed considering everything. There’s definitely a lot of takeaways that I have from it. The run was brutal and I think the ride was part of that as well. I’m really happy with it and how I executed it in general to be honest.”
Moxon was bold in the bike leg of the race, making a breakaway from the pack to lead the race but eventually the heat and conditions proved too tough.
“It kind of just hit me and I went backwards from there but I was happy I gave it a crack and didn’t shy away from giving it a go,” he said.
“It was a pretty good atmosphere out there. I could definitely hear family and friends out there, especially on the run and the ride. It was very motivating and made me find another gear so it was good to see them out there.”
Watch the full race replay on Kayo Sports and TriathlonLive.tv
Australian Men Junior World Championships Final Results:
Oscar Wootton – 9th
Zahn Spies – 24th
Oliver Moxon – 38th
