ITU World Triathlon Series heads to London for European leg

London this weekend marks the sixth race and start to the European leg in the 2015 ITU World Triathlon Series. Serving as the host city for the second sprint-distance race of the season for the elites, the Great Britain capital will also see the likes of Paratriathlon across multiple sport classes.

While Gwen Jorgensen (USA) tops the start list in the hopes of continuing on in her nine-time undefeated winning streak, London may bring her toughest competition yet. A star-studded women’s race will also feature compatriot Katie Zaferes, Great Britain’s own Non Stanford and Vicky Holland and New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt. In the men's race, brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) will face off head-to-head for the first time this season and with Javier Gomez (ESP) taking a break from the WTS, fellow Spaniard Mario Mola will be sporting the No. 1 in an attempt to claim another London gold as he did in a last-minute sprint finish last year.

Click here for the women's preview

Click here for the men's preview

Click here for the paratriathlon 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 2012 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. In 2013 London also served as the host site for the WTS Grand Final. Last year the event crowned Gwen Jorgensen and Mario Mola top honours as they took home the gold for the elites.

SCHEDULE:

Elite Women

Sunday 31 May - 16:45 UTC/GMT +1 Click here for the time in your area

Elite Men

Sunday 31 May - 15:05 UTC/GMT+1 Click here for the time in your area

WEBSITES:

http://london.triathlon.org/

START LISTS:

Click here for the women's start list

Click here for the men's start list

Click here for the paratriathlon start lists

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 (750m) – Athletes will swim one lap in the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park.

Bike (20km) – Athletes will complete four laps through Hyde Park, crossing the bridge over the Serpentine before heading up to Hyde Park Corner and up to Lancaster Gate.

Run (5km) – Athletes will run two laps, passing in front of the grandstands four times along the north side of the Serpentine.

STORIES TO WATCH FOR:

BROWNLEE BROTHERS BATTLE

After placing only fifth in the 2015 WTS opener in Abu Dhabi, Jonathan Brownlee followed up with two strong back-to-back victories in Auckland and Gold Coast before taking a break for training. With Jonny’s absence, older brother Alistair entered the circuit in Cape Town by winning the gold medal and then earned a silver medal in Yokohama. London will mark the first race this year that both brothers have marked the start list, and should be a good testament of who’s training has worked out for the better.

MOLA'S SPRINT TOUGH TO MATCH

Mola, who will wear No. 1 this weekend in the absence of compatriot Javier Gomez Noya, is tough to match in a sprint battle. He took the top spot over the sprint distance both here in 2014 and in Abu Dhabi earlier this year with an impressive final kick in each race.

SEEKING DOUBLE DIGITS

Given her dynamite season, there’s no question the tour de force lining up in London is Gwen Jorgensen. Undefeated this season, the American will look to collect her second consecutive title in the UK capital, having scored gold with a run-away performance last year. While her nine-race winning streak suggests the title should be hers for the taking, London Town has presented a mixed bag of results for Jorgensen in years past, having medalled twice but also crashed out to end a World Championship bid in 2013.

HOMETOWN HEROES

In London 2013 Great Britain’s own Non Stanford was named the world’s fastest triathlete. But as fate would have it, it was also the last race Stanford would line up for for another 20 months until she secured a top 10 finish last weekend in Yokohama. A triathlete that has challenged Jorgensen’s foot speed in the past, look for the home crowd to get behind Stanford.

Stanford will toe the line with teammate and housemate Vicky Holland who, like Stanford, has endured injury on and off the last year. But the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist came back blazing in the saddle in her first race out in Cape Town, scoring her first WTS gold last month

PARATRI CHAMPION START LIST

With four-time World Champ Bill Chaffey (AUS) back in the game after sustaining injuries due to a training accident last year, he’ll challenge Great Britain’s own Phil Hogg who took second in the World Championships last year. Geert Schipper (NED) returns as the defending champion at the London event, but with Hogg’s hometown advantage and Chaffey’s renewed form, the men’s PT1 is one race that will be hotly contested.

PAST LONDON WINNERS

2014

Gwen Jorgensen (USA)

Mario Mola (ESP)

2013

Non Stanford (GBR)

Javier Gomez (ESP)

2012

Nicola Spirig (SUI)

Alistair Brownlee (GBR)

2011

Helen Jenkins (GBR)

Alistair Brownlee (GBR)

2010

Paula Findlay (CAN)

Javier Gomez (ESP)

2009

Nicola Spirig (SUI)

Alistair Brownlee (GBR)

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