Young athletes are expected to deliver strong performances at the Cambridge Beaches Bermuda Triathlon in Somerset on Sunday.

With last year’s star attractions Tyler Smith, Erica Hawley and Jack Harvey, plus University of Colorado Boulder student Jackson Langley, all absent, the stage is set for up-and-coming talent to shine.

Gianluca Bortoli, who represented Bermuda at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, last week, is a strong contender for the overall title in the adult sprint triathlon. He will face strong competition from Dylan Eiselt, Jasper Lau, Jens Drea, Lucas Bule, Oliver Brunnock and Spencer Butterfield.

Ollie Hayward, the winner of the race in 2024, has withdrawn his participation as he is making his debut for Loughborough University at the British Universities & Colleges Sport Triathlon Series in Leicester tomorrow.

Conor White, one of Bermuda’s top cyclists, is going it alone in the sprint triathlon, which features a 750-metre swim, 20km bike ride and 10km run.

“I have zero expectations for the swim,” White said.

“I’ll try to enjoy the bike and go fast. My run is decent, so we’ll see how I finish.”

National open-water champion Craig Munden is not carrying high hopes this year following his all-male team victory in 2025 when he combined with Matt Boys and Sean Trott.

Days after finishing third overall at the St Croix Coral Reef Swim Race in the US Virgin Islands, Munden is teaming up with Scott Oliver and fitness trainer Frances Smith in the mixed-team relay.

“After spending the last week in the US Virgin Islands for the Coral Reef Swim, I’m excited to come back to Bermuda and take part in the Cambridge Beaches Triathlon in a more casual capacity,” Munden said.

“I’m teaming up with two good friends, Scott Oliver and Frances Smith, in the mixed relay. Bermuda has such a strong pedigree in triathlon, so I really enjoy supporting these events.”

The women’s race is expected to be contested between Riana Robinson, Kelise Wade and Isla Cooze. Marie-lyne Dore, who could have been a strong contender for the title, has instead opted to join forces with Caroline Black in an all-female team relay.

Dore, the female runner-up a year ago, is doing the bike and running leg in preparation for the Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Half Marathon next Saturday. She is travelling for the race with Maddie Durkin, Christine Dailey and Rose-Anna Hoey.

“I think Caroline Black and I are a strong team,” Dore said.

“Caroline is a really good swimmer and I am a strong cyclist and runner. Our goal is to have fun and we decided to do it because we were going to the event anyway, as our daughters are racing.”

In the boys’ 11-15, Ethan Smith and Spencer Haldeman will be hoping their impressive displays for Bermuda at the Carifta Triathlon, Aquathlon and Mixed Relay Championships last month can carry them to victory.

Ronan Davidge, Niklas Bock, Lukas Eiselt, Maxwell Williams and Thomas Twilley are also among those chasing honours.

Colette Durkin faces strong competition in the same age group for girls from the likes of Naomi MacGuinness, Elena Bortoli, Evelyn Fahy, Madeleine Friend, Eva Desjardins and Lorcan McGlynn.

As of today, 185 participants had registered for the last race of the year on the Bermuda Triathlon Association calendar.