SAIDIA, Morocco—Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk is proving age is just a number after winning the silver medal at the World Triathlon Cup in Saidia, Morocco on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Mislawchuck clocked a time of 1:45:58 in the Olympic distance test for his first World Cup podium in two years. It was the seventh World Cup podium of his storied career.
“I would have liked the win, but I’ll take second,” said Mislawchuk, who also has one bronze medal under his belt on the World Triathlon Championship Series. “It was a hot race. Even on the bike I could feel it so I knew it was going to be a hot run.”
The three-time Olympian came out of the unique 1.5-kilometre swim in sixth spot – just eight seconds back of the frontrunner.
“It was kind of like a duathlon today because there was a 100-200 metre run in and out of the water which we had to do four times so it was not your typical swim group today and it became more of a run race,” said Mislawchuk. “Even if you are a runner, running on sand is not the funnest thing to do. It just kind of zapped your legs.”
One would never know.
The Oak Bluff, Man. resident appeared composed and comfortable while settling in for the eight-lap pedal with 24 riders through Morocco’s northeastern coastal town known as the Blue Pearl.
Thriving in the heat, the lone Canuck in the field followed his game plan, steadily working his way through the pack in the first of five laps on the 10-kilometre run. One of seven athletes out front at the end of the second lap, Mislawchuk made his move and pulled away from the field with American John Reed and Great Britain’s Oliver Conway, who was making his first World Cup start, going with him. The trio matched strides over the next lap with the veteran Mislawchuk and rookie Conway controlling the pace.
As the intensity and pace picked up in the final loop, Reed dropped off the back, leaving a head-to-head battle between the veteran and the rookie until the last 100-metres where the 20-year-old Conway snuck ahead in last corner into the finishing stretch.
“My rule on the run was I was not allowed to push myself until 3 or 4 kilometres because of the heat which is when I went and made the original break and we got a few away,” said Mislawchuk. “He (Conway) got a gap out of the corner. I knew he was a good runner, but I just got stuck in that gear. Would have been nice to win. Everyone wants to win but I’ll take second.”
Conway posted a golden time of 1:45:53. John Reed settled for third at 1:46:11.
It’s been quite a year for Mislawchuk. After a best-ever ninth place finish at the 2024 Olympics where he was battling for the podium until the final two kilometres, Canada’s top triathlete over the last decade opened this season with a sixth place finish at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Yokohama, Japan.
Complete World Triathlon Cup Saidia Results
