The Battle for supertri Team Championship: Crown vs. Podium in a Final Showdown

As supertri 2024 heads to its season finale in NEOM, the race for the team championship has boiled down to two contenders: Crown Racing and Podium Racing. Both teams have consistently performed well throughout the season, but Crown holds a slight edge as they aim to secure the title. However, with expanded points up for grabs in NEOM, Podium Racing still has a chance to pull off a dramatic comeback. Here’s a breakdown of how the season has unfolded for the top teams and what needs to happen for each to claim victory.

With only 14 points separating Crown and Podium, the final race is poised to be a close and intense contest. Stars & Stripes Racing and Brownlee Racing are too far back to challenge for the title but have had impressive seasons, with strong individual performances that kept them competitive

Crown Racing has been the most consistent team this season, regularly scoring at the top thanks to a strong lineup of athletes who excel in both the women’s and men’s events. Their success has largely been built on the early lead their women’s team has given them in each race, with Georgia Taylor-Brown leading the charge alongside several other top performers.

Season Highlights:

• Boston: Crown Racing got off to a strong start with 81 points, placing them near the top of the standings right from the beginning.

• Chicago:Their consistent performances continued, adding 79 points to their tally.

• London: Crown had their best race of the season, scoring a team-high 88 points and further extending their lead.

• Toulouse: Though their scoring dipped slightly to 75 points, they maintained their advantage over Podium Racing heading into the NEOM finale.

What They Need to Do: Crown Racing needs a solid performance from both their women and men in NEOM to maintain their lead. If their women can establish an early advantage, as they have throughout the season, they’ll be in a strong position to hold off Podium’s late push.

Podium Racing has been Crown’s closest rival all season, only slightly trailing in the standings due to a mix of mechanical issues and penalties that have occasionally held them back. However, Podium has often relied on its men’s team to make up for any early losses, showcasing a strong collective effort that has kept them within reach of the title.

Season Highlights:

• Boston: Podium began the season in top form, scoring 82 points, narrowly edging Crown.

• Chicago: They built on their strong start with 83 points, the highest score of any team in that race, demonstrating their depth and resilience.

• London: Podium had a slight dip with 75 points but remained close to Crown’s total.

• Toulouse: A tough race for Podium saw their top athlete, Jeanne Lehair, suffer a puncture, and Cassandre Beaugrand’s disqualification led to a 20-point setback. Despite these challenges, they managed to earn 69 points and kept their title hopes alive.

What They Need to Do: To overcome Crown in NEOM, Podium Racing needs a clean and high-scoring performance from both their men and women, with no mechanical issues or disqualifications. Podium’s strategy will likely focus on limiting Crown’s lead early on, allowing their strong male lineup to close the gap in the later stages of the race.

While Stars & Stripes Racing is out of the running for the title, their team has shown impressive growth over the season, with standout performances in each race. Their victory in Toulouse with 87 points is a testament to their progress and resilience. Key athletes like Vasco Vilaca and Taylor Spivey have consistently scored well, pushing Stars & Stripes to third in the standings.

Season Highlights:

• Boston to Chicago: Stars & Stripes faced some early challenges but steadily improved, scoring 46 and 63 points, respectively.

• London: A strong race saw them collect 75 points, tying with Podium Racing and positioning themselves as a top-three team.

• Toulouse: Their standout performance came in Toulouse, where they achieved their highest score of 87 points, narrowly missing Crown’s London high score by a single point.

What They Need to Do: Although they are not title contenders, Stars & Stripes Racing will aim to finish the season on a high note with another strong performance in NEOM. Their upward trajectory this season suggests they’ll be a serious competitor in the future.

Brownlee Racing’s season has been a mix of highs and lows, with some solid individual performances but not enough consistency across the team to contend for the championship. Currently fourth in the standings, they’ve struggled to keep pace with the top teams, though they have shown promise.

Season Highlights:

• Boston: Brownlee started the season with a solid performance, scoring 73 points.

• Chicago to London: A series of middling results saw them earn 57 and 45 points, respectively, placing them further behind the leaders.

• Toulouse: A stronger showing brought in 51 points, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap to the top three.

What They Need to Do: With no chance of winning the title, Brownlee Racing’s goal in NEOM will be to end the season with a strong team performance and potentially edge closer to Stars & Stripes in the standings.