Previewing the 2013 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final
Events run from September 11 to 15 in London.
The 2013 ITU World Triathlon Series has seen seven World Triathlon Series contested in four continent across six Olympic distance, one super sprint and one monster climb courses. Now the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London is just days away. The elite women’s race features the closest battle for a World Title to date with just 13 points separating the top three ladies. Meanwhile, the men’s race will feature the entire 2012 Olympic podium back in Hyde Park to vie at their shot of becoming a World Champion.
Not only will the elites battle on much the same course as the London Olympics, the Grand Final will crown World Champions in the U23, Junior, Paratriathlon, Age Group and Aquathlon events from 11-15 September.
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 London Olympic Games. Last year, the course, which
started with a one-lap 1.5km swim in the Serpentine in Hyde Park before a 7-lap 40km bike that circled Buckingham Palace and a 4-lap, 10km run that finished in Hyde Park became legendary as the world’s top triathletes competed for Olympic gold. 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. While Olympic champions were decided last year, this year the event will crown the overall 2013 world champions. London will also host the Under23, junior, paratriathlon and aquathlon world championship races, as well as welcome thousands of age group athletes to compete on parts of the Olympic course.
SCHEDULE:
Aquathlon
Junior Women – September 12 – 08:00 Time in your area
Junior Men – September 12 – 10:00
Under23 Women – September 12 – 12:00
Under23 Men – September 12 – 15:00
Paratriathlon – September 13 – 14:00
Elite Women – September 14 – 08:30
Elite Men – September 15 – 13:30
Full, detailed schedule including age-group races
WEBSITE:
START LISTS:
* For the Elites, Kirsten Sweetland, Andrew McCartney, Andrew Yorke, and Kyle Jones are set to race for Canada.
LIVE COVERAGE:
Live video coverage be available on race day at triathlon.org/tv or at @triathlonlive on Twitter.
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY: $280,000 USD (equal for men & women)
ELITE COURSE PROFILE:
Swim (1.5km) – Off a pontoon start, athletes will swim two 750m laps in the Serpentine Lake.
Bike (40km) – After exiting the lake, athletes will bike a seven-lap technical course that passes Hyde Park Corner, Wellington Arch before turning around Buckingham Palace to head back to the Park.
Run (10km) – Off the bike, athletes will run three laps along the Serpentine, passing transition twice on each lap, meaning each of the laps features two 180-degree turns.
Elite Course Map
U23 Course Map
Junior Course Map
STORIES TO WATCH FOR: Elite Women’s Preview
Just 13 points separate Gwen Jorgensen, Anne Haug and Non Stanford in the race for the 2013 ITU Elite Women’s World Championship. As the margin is so close it actually makes the final elite title easier to predict, if one of those three crossed the finish line in London first, they will also win the 2013 World Championship. In a year of consistent podium performances from the top-four, with Jodie Stimpson as the fourth, it’s hard to pick exactly who will come out on top. Each of the women have different strengths, with Jorgensen and Stanford lethal on the run and Haug a force to be reckoned with on the bike.
Elite Men’s Preview
In the seven World Triathlon Series races contested this year, they’ve all been won by only three men – Alistair Brownlee, Jonathan Browlnee and Javier Gomez. Just 120 points separates the athletes, meaning the World Champion will more than likely be the man that crosses the finish line first on Sunday at the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London.
Alistair Brownlee will line up first despite starting in just four World Triathlon Series races this season followed by Javier Gomez (ESP). Every single World Triathlon Series race in London has been won by either Alistair or Gomez, putting history on their side. But don’t count out Jonathan Brownlee, who proved he is also capable of piping his brother at the WTS Hamburg, although he too has struggled with injury this year. While the Olympic medallists are the reoccurring threats to the podium, they have company in their medal chase this year, including Mario Mola (ESP), Joao Silva (POR) and Richard Murray (RSA).
Under 23 Preview
The Under23 men’s and women’s races are laced with the superstars of tomorrow. This year’s women’s U23 start list simmers with talent that will enjoy the help of their teammates on the two-lap swim, eight-lap bike, three-lap Olympic distance course. Amongst the nations expected to feature are Great Britain, Australia, Canada and Russia. Unlike the women, the top gents will get a little less help from their countrymen, but it does return a strong field. The 2012 silver and bronze medallists Fernando Alarza (ESP) and Thomas Bishop (GBR) will again toe the line this year.
Junior Preview
The Junior races will not only kick off a loaded day of action on Thursday, but also marks the start of World Championship triathlon races at the 2013 PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final. The Junior women’s race is like dejavu all over again. Fumika Matsumoto, who became the first triathlete from Japan to ever win a World Championship title last year, is back to defend her title. Leonie Periault (FRA) and Tamara Gorman (USA) joined Matsumoto on the podium and will look to avenge their missed titles on the one lap swim, four lap bike and two lap run course. While the women return all of their medallists, Constantine Doherty (IRL) will be the sole representative from the 2012 podium in the Junior men’s race.
Paratriathlon Preview
Paratriathlon continues to grow as preparation continues for the sport’s debut at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. Seven categories will be contested on 14 September over a 750m swim, 20km bike (handcycle/tandem), 5km run (wheelchair) distance. Great Britain reigned supreme in both Beijing and Auckland, but the USA finished with the most overall medals, with 13, compared to Great Britain’s nine in New Zealand. The battle between the two nations continues on Friday beginning at 2:00pm.
Record Participation
London called and the age group triathlon community responded. This year features record participation from age groupers who will represent their nations in Hyde Park, with the sprint and Olympic races welcoming 1600 more athletes than they ever have before. A record 68 nations will also be represented, which is an increase of 15 from last year’s championships in Auckland. The Sprint Distance Age-Group World Championships will be held beginning at 8:00am on Friday, while the Standard Distance race will be on Sunday ahead of the elites starting at 7:00am. More information on the age group events can be found here.
PAST GRAND FINAL WINNERS
2012 Auckland Grand Final
1. Anne Haug (GER) 1. Javier Gomez (ESP)
2011 Beijing Grand Final
1. Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2010 Budapest Grand Final
1. Emma Snowsill (AUS) 1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2009 Gold Coast Grand Final
1. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
ITU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALLISTS
(since World Championship format change in 2009)
2012
1. Lisa Norden (SWE) 1. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
2. Anne Haug (GER) 2. Javier Gomez (ESP)
3. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 3. Dmitry Polyanskiy (RUS)
2011
1. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2. Helen Jenkins (GBR) 2. Sven Riederer (SUI)
3. Melanie Hauss (SUI) 3. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)
2010
1. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 1. Javier Gomez (ESP)
2. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 2. Steffen Justus (GER)
3. Lisa Norden (SWE) 3. Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS)
2009
1. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2. Lisa Norden (SWE) 2. Javier Gomez (ESP)
3. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 3. Maik Petzold (GER)
Ccomplete list of all ITU World Champions
PAST LONDON WINNERS
2012 London Olympics
1. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London
1. Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1. Alistair Brownlee (ESP)
2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London
1. Paula Findlay (CAN) 1. Javier Gomez (ESP)
2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London
1. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR)
