World Cup action heats up with the third race of the circuit in Huatulco, Mexico, set for Sunday. This is the sixth year the tourist destination has been part of the World Cup calendar, and the scorching heat is part of the unique challenge facing athletes preparing to toe the line. An ocean swim and a tough hill in the middle of the bike course and at the start of the run loop will test the field, which includes nine London Olympians.
Elite Women Austrian Olympian Lisa Perterer tops the women’s start list following a 12th-place finish in her 2013 season opener at the World Triathlon San Diego, another sunny locale. Perterer’s main competition may come in the form of two other Olympians, Pamela Oliveira (BRA) and Claudia Rivas (MEX), both of whom raced to podium finishes last year in Huatulco. Oliveira can distance herself from the field early with a strong swim, which she has proven so far this year with performances in San Diego and a Pan American Cup event in Brazil.
In addition to Oliveira and Rivas, two other top-10 finishers from last year are also on the start list - Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR) and Mateja Simic (SLO). These women will no doubt have an advantage over those without experience battling the course and the heat.
Paola Diaz will be aiming for a top finish in her home country in her fifth race of the season, following four top-10 finishes in Pan American events so far this year including a win in Lima.
Italy’s Gaia Peron is the only athlete with a World Cup race under her belt in 2013, earning 10th in Ishigaki where she recorded the fastest swim split of the day. Joanna Brown (CAN) could also be a contender after a top-20 finish against a tough field at the World Triathlon Series stop in San Diego.
