Preview: London World Triathlon attracts world's fastest triathletes

Preview: London World Triathlon attracts world's fastest triathletes

29 May 2014, 2:08PM
International Triathlon Union (ITU)

This weekend, Hyde Park will be transformed into a triathlon haven as the world's fastest triathletes take to racing the fifth edition of the PruHealth World Triathlon London. As in years past, London brings out the best of the best with top ranked Javier Gomez (ESP), the Brownlee brothers (GBR), Mario Mola (ESP) and Richard Murray (RSA) all on the men's start list. The women's race will feature No. 1 Jodie Stimpson (GBR), Gwen Jorgensen (USA) and Helen Jenkins (GBR). Olympic silver medallist Lisa Norden will also return to compete in London for the first time since finishing second two years ago.

Click here for the women's preview
Click here for the men's preview

About the race:
London first appeared on the ITU calendar in 2009, as part of the inaugural Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series. The England capital city went on to host the race in 2010 and 2011 in the lead up to the London Olympic Games. Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee and Jonathan Brownlee earned their country its first triathlon Olympic medals ever, while the women's race came down to a nail-biting down to the line sprint photo finish between Nicola Spirig and Lisa Norden. Last year the event crowned the overall 2013 world champions, with Non Stanford taking the women's top honours, while Javier Gomez earned the title for the men.

SCHEDULE:
Elite Women - May 26 - 16:00 (GMT+0) Click here for a time in your area 
Elite Men - May 26 - 14:30 (GMT+0)  Click here for a time in your area   

WEBSITE:
http://worldtrilondon.com

LIVE COVERAGE:
Live video coverage be available on race day at triathlonlive.tv or at @triathlonlive
on Twitter.

Media are invited to watch the races live on triathlonlive.tv with a complimentary login:
User: itu@triathlonlive.tv
Pass:  itu2014TRI
**This login is complimentary for media only**

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY:   
$150,000 USD (equal for men & women)   

ELITE COURSE PROFILE:
Swim (750m) - Off a pontoon start, athletes will swim 750m in the Serpentine Lake.
Bike (20km) - After exiting the lake, athletes will bike a four lap technical course
that heads towards Lancaster Gate before making a sharp 180-degree turn towards Albert Memorial, after which athletes head to Hyde Park corner for a final turn towards home.
Run (5km) - Off the bike, athletes will run three laps along the Serpentine, passing
transition twice on each lap, meaning each of the laps features two 180-degree turns.

STORIES TO WATCH FOR:  
Elite Women's Preview
Jodie Stimpson will line up as the woman to beat on home soil. The Brit has stormed to an impressive start to the season, having won the first two WTS events of the year. After sitting out last year's race due to injury, Helen Jenkins (GBR) will return to compete in London for the first time since finishing fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games. While Gwen Jorgensen  didn't have the start to the year she was looking for, the American was back to her red hot racing style in Japan and is well suited for the flat course. Anne Haug (GER) will certainly look to avenge her unfortunate performance last year that prevented her from being the World Champ and proved she's powerful over a sprint last year in Hamburg. Olympic silver medallist Lisa Norden (SWE) will make her debut to World Triathlon racing after illness and injury has prevented her toeing the line so far this year.

Elite Men's Preview
In the four years London has been on the WTS schedule, either Alistair Brownlee (GBR) or Javier Gomez (ESP) has won the race, and both are on the start list. But there's a twist this year with the event set to be contested over half the standard distance. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR), who has medalled in three of the four World Triathlon London races, is tough to beat in a sprint, as he displayed in Hamburg when he beat his older brother last season. Then there's the ever powerful Mario Mola (ESP) and Richard Murray (RSA) have been slowly inching closer and closer to the top of the rankings. Two weeks ago, both scored huge breakthrough performances, making the podium ahead of the Brownlee brothers in Japan with their immense run speed.

Not just the elites
Paratriathlon continues to grow as preparation continues for the sport's debut at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. Five categories will be contested on 14 September over a 750m swim, 20km bike (handcycle/tandem), 5km run (wheelchair) distance. Great Britain boasts a strong team that will no doubt delight on Saturday morning starting at 8am. A record number of age group athletes will also participate in the open events, which have sold out at the maximum 5,000 person capacity.

PAST LONDON WINNERS
2013 PruHealth London Grand Final
1. Non Stanford                                           1. Javier Gomez
2012 London Olympics
1. Nicola Spirig (SUI)                                       1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London  
1. Helen Jenkins (GBR)                                   1. Alistair Brownlee (ESP)   
2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London  
1. Paula Findlay (CAN)                                     1. Javier Gomez (ESP)   
2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London    
1. Nicola Spirig (SUI)                                        1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)

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