Nearly 50 teams have registered for the Aon Mixed Team Relay National Championship at Clearwater Beach, St David’s, tomorrow morning.

In the open division, Dylan Eiselt and Lucas Bule, competing as Tri-ed and Tested, will be favourites for the men’s title but strong competition could come from Gianluca Bortoli and Jasper Lau’s Team Endorphin.

Also among the contenders are Spencer Haldeman and Jens Drea, registered as Tri and Stop Us, Ethan Smith and Jacob Leclerc’s No Breaks team, while Ronan Davidge and Sanchez Smith are also in the mix.

Last year, Eiselt partnered with Jackson Langley to win the overall title. Langley will miss the event as he just started college at University of Colorado Boulder.

In the women’s race, Ashley Couper and Marie-lyne Dore’s Synergy Girls combination will be the team to beat.

Fresh from finishing 42nd overall and winning the 40-44 female age group at the Ironman Wisconsin, Dore will be hoping to put on a strong show against younger competitors, including her daughters.

Sofia Leclerc and Riana Robinson, racing as Tri and Beat Us, will be hot on the heels of the two veterans. Elena Bortoli and Iris Duda are also capable of mounting a challenge for the title.

The exciting format features the first team member completing their race and then handing over to their team-mate, with each person taking on a 300-metre swim, 8km cycle and 2km run.

Because it is a relay, there is no clear winner until the second team member crosses the finish line, which means anything is possible.

“One of the best things about this event is that the team format and relatively short distances attract both newcomers to the sport and experienced triathletes,” the organisers said.

“From the entry list you can see that Aon has five teams taking part, most of whom will be competing in their first triathlon. We’re also delighted to have teams from Brit, Chubb and QBE this year.

“There is also a race for under-11, which isn’t always possible at triathlon events because of the long distances involved.

“But it’s great to see children who are new to the sport getting involved in a less stressful, safe and fun environment.”

Aon Bermuda chief executive Nick Moore is pleased that the event provides a pathway for those new to the sport.

“This is a fresh and fun event that we were keen to bring back to the Bermuda sports calendar,” Moore said.

“We are delighted that it brings together the more experienced triathletes along with those new to the sport, both young and old.”