Hat-trick. Three-peat. Triathlon. It may just be that most good things come in threes. Duathlon bucks the trend, yet it is coming to be an increasingly integral part of the triathlete’s calendar, distinguishable in that it consists of two events (over three legs) as opposed to the standard run, bike and swim.

Duathlon is still a phenomenal exhibition of physical endurance. Competitors run, cycle and then run once more, omitting the swimming leg of the sport’s better known counterpart. Mark Allen, a six time Ironman Triathlon Champion, once claimed that the Swiss Zofingen Duathlon was the hardest race in the world.

Despite its relatively recent creation, duathlon has grown considerably year on year, and is beginning to worm its way into the annual triathlon programme. It works well for British participants in particular, as winter temperatures make the open-water swimming leg of the triathlon impossible in northern climes. In fact, the largest and most popular international Duathlon event takes place in the UK: the London Duathlon saw over 4,000 competitors taking part last September.

Closer to home, a Varsity Duathlon competition has been established, and is enjoying burgeoning popularity. The first event took place in 2010 at Milton Keynes, with fewer than 30 competitors from Oxford and Cambridge combined. The event then moved to Eton Dorney (of Olympic rowing fame) and since then has grown year on year, reaching 60 Oxbridge competitors last year. Perhaps more importantly, Cambridge have emerged victors three years in a row.

Matt Jones, President of the Cambridge University Triathlon Club, is positive about the sport’s prospects: “Varsity Duathlon is perfect for beginners because we can close the roads and it’s a flat course”. He emphasises that the sport “can provide a great fitness goal for any level of ability”, not just pedigree athletes. There is the unique benefit of being able to train in two disciplines, which are both social and ideal for fitness. According to Jones, this reduces the chance of injury and livens up an otherwise repetitive training regime.

Cambridge has a number of successful duathletes. Jones highlights the endeavours of Petros Giannaros and Max Jenkins, both having impressed at the BUCS Duathlon event in November, and Beth Campbell, last year’s female Varsity champion.
Accessibility is one of duathlon’s greatest assets. It seems as though a beginner can start at any level and enjoy at least relative success. The Cambridge Varsity Squad has no selection process, so anyone who is a member of CUTriC can compete. The ‘mob match’, which totals the finishing positions of team members from both sides of the Varsity divide and uses that to determine an overall winner, means that everyone’s effort counts.

Nor is an Olympic equipment budget required: “you can compete on any sort of bike, as long as it’s roadworthy’’, says Jones.

Jones is positive about this year’s event, citing Cambridge’s dominance in previous years and some of the highly ‘committed and disciplined’ athletes competing. Even so, he believes more competitors are needed for complete domination. Oxford frequently outnumber Cambridge, making victory in the ‘mob match’ all the more challenging. We may not see ‘Two-peat’ or ‘Hat-duck’ catch on, but Duathlon seems to be here to stay.

This year’s Varsity duathlon takes place on 22nd February.