TRIATHLON

WTS racing returns to Stockholm for penultimate leg of the Series

By International Triathlon Union

STOCKHOLM - The best triathletes in the world will gather in Sweden this weekend for the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Stockholm, one of the most emblematic and scenic races on the ITU calendar. For the penultimate leg of the WTS season, athletes will be competing on a standard distance course, the same one from last year, in one of the most beautiful set ups of the world, which sits right next to the Royal Palace.

Women’s Elite Preview
A field of 35 women will dive in the water of the Riddarfjärden in what will probably be an all-against-the-current-WTS-leader, Bermudian Flora Duffy.

She will be indeed the one to beat in the streets of the Royal city, wearing the golden swim cap reserved for the number one of the series, and knowing that no other athlete can take away that position form her, no matter what she does this weekend. The clear dominator of the season will be trying to get in Stockholm her fifth victory of the season, something only American Gwen Jorgensen has done before.
Flora’s dominant season has seen so far a record for the largest winning margins in both Standard distance (11 seconds, in WTS Yokohama), and Sprint distance (31 seconds in WTS Hamburg), so it looks like there’s little the rest of the athletes can do to kick her out of the leading position, but the Bermudian will have to prove herself strong and consistent to be able to win again in Stockholm.

One of her strongest rivals will be, Australian Ashleigh Gentle, who just comes back from an astonishing victory –the first of her extensive WTS career- in Montreal. But Gentle’s performance was not a one-day show, as she has been one of the most consistent athletes of the season, enough to get her at the moment the second place on the overall rankings.

Same scenario applies to American Katie Zaferes, one of the more consistent athletes of the season, and who has finished within the top four positions on most races this season. One of the strongest runners on the field, she will be in the fight for the podium in Stockholm, but also fighting to keep herself on the final podium of the season.


Men’s Elite Preview
Most eyes will be focused, one more time, on the Spaniard Army. With Mario Mola leading the pack, and knowing that no matter what he does in Sotckholm he will be the leader when the Grand Final comes, he will be wearing the golden number 1 this Saturday. With four victories in WTS races this season – WTS Gold Coast, WTS Yokohama, WTS Hamburg and WTS Edmonton - the Spaniard sure wants to get rid of the sour experience of finishing WTS Montreal, two weeks ago, in a disappointing 14th position, way further back than what he is used to. Back in the Standard distance in Stockholm, he will try to secure himself a podium position which will guarantee him also a comfortable lead before facing the Grand Final in Rotterdam in September.

His main concern in this race will probably be another Spaniard, Fernando Alarza, who had a powerful start of the season, with three podiums, but has been just recently being left out of the podium positions for the overall WTS rankings, standing currently in fourth position. With his teammate Javier Gomez Noya and South African contendant Richard Murray not racing this weekend, he has a great chance of not only getting in the podium positions in Stockholm, but also to get back to the top overall rankings. An 8th position in this race will put him in third, while crossing the finish line in fourth or better will be enough to guarantee him the second place in the WTS rankings. 

ABOUT THE RACE: 
Stockholm is one of the most emblematic courses of the WTS circuit, with athletes showcasing themselves right in front of the Royal Palace, the Parlament house and some other iconic buildings right in the city center.

Athletes will dive in right in front of the impressive City Hall on the Riddarfjärden for two laps to swim. They will then take the bikes for a 40.6 km circuit, doing nine loops on a flat course, with the exception of the Royal Palace hill. The route, technically demanding and with many changes of directions and turns, has also some cobble stones around the Palace that will be challenging for all.

Lastly, athletes will have to face a 10k run, four laps on tarmac and cobble stones around the most beautiful and emblematic places in the city.

WEBSITE:
http://stockholm.triathlon.org/

SCHEDULE:
Elite Women - Saturday 26 August - 12:06 CET Click here for time in your area
Elite Men - Sunday 26 August - 15.06 CET Click here for time in your area
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 #WTSStockholm and 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 at Riddarfjärden (City Hall). There are two laps to swim. The first lap is 1000 meters and the second is 500 meters. The first turn is in 480m. They will exit via stairs on the side of the start pontoon. The water temperature in Riddarfjärden at the end of August can be expected to be roughly 18-20°C.

Bike - 40km - Generally flat profile with the exception of the Palace hill. There is an initial 4,6 km from transition to the Palace, followed by nine laps of 4,0 km to ride, so a total of 40,6 km The route is technically demanding, due to many changes of direction and tight turns. Generally good tarmac, but some cobble stones around the Palace. Athletes who are lapped are taken out of the race. The “first runner, last biker”-scenario is applicable for this event. In this case the biker will be taken off the course.

Run - 10km - Generally flat course except of the Palace hill. There are four laps of 2.5km to run. Surface mostly tarmac and cobble stones. 
Click here for a course map

PAST STOCKHOLM WINNERS 
          WOMEN                        MEN  

2016    Flora Duffy (BER)                            Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2015    Sarah True (USA)                            Javier Gomez Noya (ESP)
2014    Sarah True (USA)                            Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
2013    Gwen Jorgensen (USA)                   Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2012    Lisa Norden (NOR)                          Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)