Lewis stealing march on rivals
GUERNSEY’S No. 1 triathlete has secured a starting spot when the European Cup series opens in Huelva, Spain, next month.
Josh Lewis, who is also scheduling a 5k road race as part of the 2020 Easter festival locally, is aiming to build on his outstanding form of last year when his Island Games gold-medal winning performance led to him securing the Richard Burton Salver for the island’s top male performer at the recent Guernsey Sports Awards.
The Ravenscroft-backed triathlete has competed at European Cup level before but that was only as a result of being named as part of Guernsey’s Commonwealth Games team in Gold Coast.
‘This year I’ve managed to qualify in my own right off the back of my Mallory Park British championship result, and I’m really excited to return to the European scene,’ said Lewis.
‘The competition will be really high in these first few races as everyone will want to put their winter training to the test.
‘I was fortunate to get a start as there are a lot of Brits who will want to race and only a few spots available.’
Lewis has already shown strong running form this calendar year, clocking 15min. 16sec. over 5k.
He is confident of doing well.
‘My training has gone really well so I hope to be able to string a good race together, but you never know how it will unfold.
‘A top eight would be the best that I could hope for to be honest. However, I think if everything goes to plan realistically a top 15 would be a great result. It’s highly competitive.’
Lewis says he is unsure as to exactly how many European Cup events he will compete, dependant on form and funds, but as things stand he is also aiming for the Llanelli Sprint in early May, Holten Sprint race in the Netherlands in mid June and end the season in September by defending his British title, take in the Constana event in Romania and win a place in Super League Triathlon Jersey.
He has not forgotten the mistakes he made at the latter at the end of last season.
Lewis came out of the opening swim leg plum last and, as he said at the time, ‘then you’re out of the game’.
He added then: ‘Tactical and execution errors really expose you in this sort of racing at this level and I have a lot to learn in that respect and improve on.
‘I’ve only had three years of that experience in comparison to their 10-plus. That will definitely be an aspect of racing I’ll be working on for next season.’
