With a small IOC delegation attending and writing a report of the eighth edition of the event here in Hamburg, the ITU’s ambition for the weekend was clear. Showcase the discipline and hope the action backs up their claims to be a visual and exciting sport for spectators. They are likely to leave confident that the event has done enough to receive a favourable report, after a three way sprint finish for the silver and bronze medals, with the American team having stormed to gold.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the event is its ability to allow spectators multiple opportunities to watch action, with the sport being contested across a city. Normally fans at distance races, such as a marathon or a road cycling event, could wait for a prolonged period of time to watch from the side of the road, only to see the race flash past in front of their eyes.

The super sprint format ensures that the course remains tight and with four members from each country due to take on the course, athletes are consisting flying through the course, from the race leaders to stragglers at the back.

Prior to the race, athletes had stressed the excitement of having an opportunity to take part in a team event in predominantly an individual sport. This aspect was best highlighted by Charlotte McShane, who led off the Australian team. Having ended her section of the race outside of the main group, the 25-year-old admitted to having felt like she had let her team-mates down, only for the Jacob Birthwhistle, Emma Jackson and Ryan Baille to come through the field to secure a silver medal.

With athletes often having a weaker event, the shorter format could also be argued to make the gap less pronounced and place a greater focus on the strength of the overall team. As there is less distance for team’s star names to make their impact on the race, attacks appeared to be more prevalent as they looked to give their team an advantage. The jury, however, remains out on the claim that the format could help developing nations compete at the highest level of the sport, with several of the less well-known triathlon names left adrift at the back of the course.

Undoubtedly the mixed team relay provides a strong visual experience, both for spectators on the course and by the roadside, with the athletes’ changeovers, their dives into the water and the speed of the transitions are among aspects which could boost their sports prospects of inclusion at Tokyo 2020.

While the event is not present at Rio 2016, the sport will head into its fifth Olympic Games in strong shape, with a highly competitive field vying for the top honours in the men’s event, while the chasing pack are attempting to close that gap to the dominant force in the women’s field, America’s Gwen Jorgensen.

However, the ITU were dealt a blow earlier this week with the news that reigning world champion Javier Gomez will miss the Games, having sustained a broken elbow during a training session. The five-time World Triathlon Series winner would have probably headed into Rio 2016 as the favourite for gold. It would have seen him take up his role as the biggest threat to Britain’s Brownlee brothers, with Alistair and Jonathan having been split by Gomez on the London 2012 podium.

The absence of the silver medallist from London has understandably had a large reaction in Spain, with current World Triathlon Series leader Mario Mola, who won here yesterday, now set to be their biggest hope of success. Triathletes, though, have expressed their disappointment that one of the sport’s most recognisable names has been ruled out, with Jonathan Brownlee tweeting “Very sad news. You want the best athletes in the biggest races. It won't be the same without @Jgomeznoya”.

Casado was impressed by the reaction of the athletes, with several having supposedly commented that they would have been happy if the Spaniard had have claimed gold at the Games. “I am very proud of the behaviour of our athletes, they are really sensitive and well educated,” the ITU President said. “I have to say they have shown how good they are. Everything is done in a really good manner.”

While fans will be left disappointed at the enforced absence of Gomez from the men’s Olympic race, another frustrating issue reared its head this weekend in Hamburg. South Africa’s Richard Murray was given a 10 second penalty after placing his wetsuit in the wrong box during the transition. With the duathlon world champion, who recently returned to competition following a shoulder injury, breaking clear with his training partner Mola, it ultimately left the result in little doubt as they began the five kilometre run.

With the penalty lingering beside Murray’s name the tension of the race was effectively removed, with the South Africa eventually having to step into the penalty box ahead of the finish, leaving Mola to cruise to a victory. Murray’s punching of a sign and outburst to the officials after the race, which resulted in his disqualification, took spectators attention. However, you were left feeling that they had been denied a head-to-head battle for victory between two even competitors, rather than something of a coronation for Mola in the two lap run.

Clearly there is a need for rules in transitions to exist, primarily to prevent equipment from being strewn around the field or play, potentially providing a risk to the athletes. The incident with Murray, though, raises questions over whether the time penalties are a necessary evil, as a minor infringement effectively decided the outcome of the race.

Ahead of Rio 2016, it brought back memories of when Jonathan Brownlee was handed a 15 second penalty at London 2012, having mounted his bike too early. While it provided an intriguing tactical decision of when the Briton would take the penalty, the decision saw him drop out of contention for the Olympic gold, eventually taking the bronze.

Following the race, his brother opined "I think penalties are a disgrace in triathlon, they're ruining the sport. They bring judgmental decisions into a sport that should be a simple you start and you finish and the first three across the line win medals.”

With Gomez’s absence from the Games taking a major favourite out of contention for the gold, the last thing the sport would want is for another of big name watch their chances of a gold disappear down the course at Rio 2016, while they are left standing in a penalty box.