2016 Vettenfall World Triathlon Stockholm welcomes back returning talent to cobblestone streets

The World Triathlon Series continues this weekend with its sixth stop at the 2016 Vettenfall World Triathlon Stockholm. Both the men's and women's start lists are stacked with new and returning talent that will race on the infamous cobblestone streets of the Swedish capital over a two-lap swim, eight-lap bike and four-lap run course this Saturday.

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

ABOUT THE RACE: 
Stockholm became the 15th ITU World Triathlon Series host in 2012 when ITU racing returned to Sweden’s capital city for the first time since 1997. In its debut, Stockholm organised a sprint race that added an extra technical twist with the course crossing over Stockholm’s beautiful cobbled stone roads.  In its first year, Sweden’s own Lisa Norden stormed to gold on home soil shortly after earning her silver medal at the Olympics, while men’s Olympic medallist Jonathan Brownlee was brilliant for the win over Javier Gomez. But in 2013, the course was lengthened to a standard distance, meaning twice the room to race. In 2014, the course returned to its original sprint format just days ahead of the Edmonton Grand Final. But last year, the course switches again to the familiar standard Olympic distance.

SCHEDULE:
Elite Women
Saturday 2 July - 16:00 UTC/GMT +2 Click here for the time in your area

Elite Men
Sunday 2 July - 18:45 UTC/GMT+2 Click here for the time in your area 

WEBSITES:
http://stockholm.triathlon.org/

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

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

LIVE COVERAGE:
Follow all the events live with timing and text updates, at triathlonlive.tv and on twitter at @triathlonlive. 

COURSE PROFILE:
Swim(1500m) – Start at the pontoon and do two laps in Riddarfjärden in front of City Hall, with one loop set at 1km, while the second lap will be a shorter 500m.

Bike (40km) – After the transition the athletes will endure one longer loop over to and around Gamla Stan, followed by eight loops around the island including eight turns in front of the Royal Palace.

Run (10km) – Quick switch to running shoes then four laps of running to the finish line at the top of Slottsbacken.


STORIES TO WATCH FOR: 

BROWNLEES SEEK TO RECLAIM TITLE
Both Brownlees line up as two of three men to have ever won in Stockholm. Only rival Javier Gomez has also won in Stockholm, but he will miss this year’s race due to illness. Older brother Alistair won the race in 2013, while Jonathan took the top spot in 2012 and 2014. They will both carry strong momentum into Stockholm, with Alistair coming off a win in his hometown of Leeds, and Jonathan having scored silver in the same race.

SPANISH MEN REMAIN AT TOP
It is Fernando Alarza that will be wearing the golden number one this weekend. Alarza was recently named to the Spanish Olympic team, earning a berth to his first-ever Olympic Games. He is currently second overall in the Columbia Threadneedle rankings,after scoring a silver medal in Gold Coast and then winning in Cape Town. Alarza is one of only three men to win a WTS race this year.

TRUE GOING FOR THREE-PEAT
One woman who does have experience being at the top of the Stockholm podium is USA’s Sarah True. She returns as the reigning back-to-back champion after she claimed the WTS Stockholm titles in 2014 and 2015. If she can manage another huge performance this weekend, she will earn a three-peat win.


PAST STOCKHOLM WINNERS 
              WOMEN                            MEN   
2015      Sarah True (USA)             Javier Gomez (ESP)
2014      Sarah True (USA)             Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
2013      Gwen Jorgensen (USA)    Alistair Brownlee (GBR)  
2012      Lisa Norden (SWE)           Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)