Cartagena hosts penultimate ITU World Cup

With just two World Cups left in the ITU season, Cartagena debuts as a new race on the circuit this Sunday. Featuring similar start lists to Cozumel, athletes will this weekend battle over double the distance over a standard sized course with top triathletes like Nicola Spirig (SUI), Paula Findlay (CAN), Hunter Kemper (USA) and Joao Pereira (POR) lining up. Click here to read the full preview
 
About the race:
A seasoned host of PATCO races, Cartagena this year also welcomed the 2014 PATCO Triathlon Pan American Cup and Central American & Caribbean Championships. Cartagena joins the Chinese cities of Chengdu and Jiayuguan, as well as Alanya, Turkey, as new organizers of ITU World Cup races. While Cartagena is new, Colombia is no stranger to World Cup events having hosted events in both Guatape and San Andres in the past.

SCHEDULE:
Elite Women - 12 October- 07:15 (UTC/GMT - 7) Click here for time in your area
Elite Men - 12 October - 10:00 (UTC/GMT - 7) Click here for time in your area

WEBSITES:
www.triathlon.org

START LISTS:
Click here for women's start list
Click here for men's start list

LIVE COVERAGE:
Live text coverage from Cartagena will be available at @triathlonlive on Twitter.

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY:
$60,000 USD (equal for men & women) 

COURSE PROFILE:   
Swim (1500m) - A beach start, athletes will swim two laps in the ocean.
Bike (40km) - The flat course carouses around the peninsula eight times with five turns.
Run (10km) - Off the bike, athletes will take off for four laps with two 180 turns and two corners

STORIES TO WATCH FOR: 
Elite Women's Race -
Nicola Spirig (SUI) returns again this weekend after winning her third of three ITU races since winning Olympic gold. Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR) and Paula Findlay (CAN), both of whom are enjoying hot streaks, will again line up this weekend. Likewise, Vendula Frintova (CZE) has enjoyed a markedly improved season and will factor on the run. Despite her young age, Audrey Merle (FRA) can be expected to run with the top ladies come Sunday.

Elite Men's Race
After a stomach virus took Joao Pereira (POR) out of last weekend's World Cup race in Cozumel, he returns for another shot at a podium in Cartagena. The Portugese breakout star will have stiff competition from last Sven Riederer (SUI), Jarrod Shoemaker (USA), Crisanto Grajales (MEX) and Alexander Bryukhankov (RUS), all of whom raced in Cozumel. While young, the speed of the entire French team should not be discounted. Four-time Olympian Hunter Kemper(USA) will take on the rising talent.