World Triathlon Series hits Europe with Madrid stop
Women’s Preview
As the highest ranked woman so far this season, Gwen Jorgensen (USA) will wear the top number in Madrid. But current runner-up Anne Haug (GER) will be hard pressed to let Jorgensen keep the first seed after skipping the World Triathlon Yokohama race. The two top ranked women employ practically opposite race strategies, which will no doubt set the scene for an interesting event. The tough course suits Haug’s stellar bike strengths, but she’ll need a hefty lead ahead of Jorgensen if she wants to fend off the American’s dynamite run speed at the finish line.
Like Haug, hilly courses are optimal for Great Britain’s Jodie Stimpson. The Brit demonstrated her endurance on the bike at the 2012 Barfoot & Thompson World Triathlon Grand Final Auckland, and despite a disappointing race in Auckland this year, she has gone on to record three top 5 finishes, including bronze in Yokohama. If Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI) has anything to do with it, she will push the pace in the hunt for another medal in Madrid after earning bronze last year.
Felicity Abram (GBR) returns to action after electing to pass by Yokohama and will be hungry for the podium, as she was in Auckland where she came out swinging with a bronze-medal performance. The always strong Andrea Hewitt (NZL) will also have fresh legs on the course, having paused from race action after San Diego. Pamela Oliveira (BRA) recently conquered the challenging Huatulco World Cup course, suggesting she could be ready to take her place amongst the leaders in Madrid.
Wild cards include Spain’s Ainhoa Murua, who will make her 2013 debut on the WTS circuit on home soil. Murua is solid across all three disciplines and will have the support of the home crowd cheering her on. Non Stanford‘s (GBR) performance last weekend at the French Grand Prix may also foreshadow more top finishes for the Brit, as could that of Paula Findlay (CAN), who will make her much-anticipated return to the World Triathlon Series.