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.
Top ranked Bermudian Flora Duffy and Jodie Stimpson lead the contingency 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.
For the second WTS race in a row, Bermuda’s Duffy will wear the golden number 1 for the race. As the current Columbia Threadneedle Rankings leader, she is having a career-best WTS season. After just missing the podium with fourth-place finishes in Abu Dhabi and Gold Coast, she has biked her way to a Bronze in Cape Town and then a Silver in Leeds. She is only missing a Gold Medal this season, so this Saturday could be her day to finally reach the top of the podium especially considering her success on tough bike courses.
However, 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.
American compatriot Katie Zaferes will join True on the start line this weekend. Zaferes, like True, will compete in Rio this summer after a remarkable six podiums last season, one of which was silver in Stockholm. While she hasn’t featured on the podium yet this year, this could be the venue that gets her back on the medal stand.
However, the American duo will face off with the full Great Britain Olympic roster with Helen Jenkins, Vicky Holland and Non Stanford all making appearances in Stockholm. Jenkins started off her season by earning third place in the season opener in Abu Dhabi, and continued on to win in Gold Coast. Holland is fresh off a podium performance in Leeds, while Stanford has one win under her belt this season from Cape Town.
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