Bermuda’s next generation of triathletes have delivered a series of gritty performances at the 2026 World Triathlon Development Regional Cup in Bridgetown, Barbados. On a day defined by soaring Caribbean temperatures and a technical urban course, the island's contingent proved they can compete with the region's elite, highlighted by a standout top-five finish in the men's field.
Gianluca Bortoli led the Bermudian charge in the Men’s Elite race, coming agonisingly close to a podium spot. Bortoli, who recently secured his qualification for the Carifta Games in Grenada, finished fourth overall with a combined time of 1:00:03. His race was built on a solid foundation in the water, clocking 10:37 for the swim, before maintaining a blistering pace on the bike with a time of 30:29. He closed out the event with a resilient 18:03 run, a performance that marks him as one of the most promising middle-distance prospects in the Atlantic region.
In the same field, Lucas Bule and Sanchez Smith showcased the depth of the Bermudian squad. Bule crossed the line in 15th place with a time of 1:11:38, having navigated a testing swim in 12:35 and a bike leg of 36:47. He showed significant determination on the run, stopping the clock at 21:20. Smith, another Carifta-bound athlete, followed in 17th place with a total time of 1:17:47. Despite a challenging swim of 15:01, Smith recovered well on the bike and produced a strong final run of 20:15 to complete the grueling course.
The Elite Female race saw Madison Schindel carry the island’s hopes against a world-class field. Schindel demonstrated impressive consistency across all three disciplines to finish 13th overall with a time of 1:16:40.
Schindel started the day with a focused 13:54 swim, positioning herself well for the transition to the cycle leg. She maintained her rhythm over the technical Barbados terrain to clock 38:53 on the bike before delivering a strong finish on the pavement. Her closing run time of 23:48 was a testament to her endurance and tactical management in the midday heat.
For Bortoli and Smith, the experience in Bridgetown serves as a vital stepping stone toward the 2026 Carifta Games in April. The high-intensity environment of the Development Regional Cup provided the perfect dress rehearsal for the tactical demands they will face in Grenada.
The results in Barbados reinforce the continued growth of the Bermuda Triathlon Association’s development programme. With the island’s athletes consistently breaking into the top twenty of regional Elite fields, the focus now turns to the final weeks of preparation before the squad departs for the Caribbean championships later this spring.
|
