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With three Australians currently ranked number one in the world for their respective events in the World Para Triathlon Series, this weekend’s race in Montreal will provide the entree into what looks to be a thrilling finale on the home shores of Wollongong in October.
Anu Francis, who at Paris 2024 became Australia’s first female PTS2 Paralympian, is making waves just three years into her Para-triathlon journey. She is hoping to repeat her golden efforts in Devonport earlier this year and again in Yokohama, where she proved unstoppable in the women’s PTS2, carving out a lead of over two minutes off the bike and extending that considerably over the 5 kilometres run to win by five minutes ahead of her nearest rivals.
“I’m really looking forward to having a good hit out and seeing where my training’s got me leading into the Wollongong World Championships,” Francis said.
“We’ve had some pretty wild thunderstorms, but the weather is looking much better for Saturday’s race day thankfully.
“We went and had a bit of a look at the course, riding the F1 track and by the regatta where we’ll be swimming. It looks really cool so I’m really excited.
“It’s my first time racing in Montreal and my first time coming to Canada and I’m feeling really privileged to come into the race ranked world No.1 for the first time.”
Four-time World Triathlon PTWC Champion and dual Paralympic triathlon medallist, Lauren Parker has had a stellar start to her 2025 campaign, winning gold at the first two WTPS events in Devonport and Yokohama and gold at the World Triathlon Para Cup in Magog, Quebec a week ago.
“I had a good hit out last weekend in Magog and I’m super relaxed leading into Saturday,” Parker said.
“I’ve raced here many times before, so I know the course inside out. It’s going to be super-fast on the Formula 1 circuit for the bike leg and I’m looking to get another good hit out and hopefully another win.”
Parker and Francis are joined by 21-year-old Jack Howell (PTS5), who is not competing at Montreal, on top of the world rankings after his early success this year winning gold at the World Triathlon Para Series in Taranto and Devonport and a silver medal in Yokohama.
Also on the start line at the closed-circuit course in the Parc Jean-Drapeau in central Montreal is two-time Paralympian David Bryant, who is racing in the PTS5.
“Looking forward to my second race of my Canadian trip after having a really good hit out in Magog for the World Cup last weekend coming third,” Bryant said.
“It will be flat and fast here on the Formula 1 track and I’m looking forward to hitting my straps on Saturday.”
Rounding out the Aussie team this weekend is 17-year-old Matthew Engesser (PTS4), who claimed bronze in Devonport at his first WTPS race earlier this year, and Paris 2024 Paralympian and two-time World Para Triathlon Championship medallist Sally Pilbeam, racing in PTS4 for her first WTPS race since winning bronze at last year’s World Championships in Torremolinos.
World Para Triathlon Series Montreal – information click here
For information on the 2025 World Triathlon Championships Finals, Wollongong proudly supported by the NSW Government and the City of Wollongong, click here.
By AusTriathlon.
Published 18 July, 2025.
