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ITU World Triathlon Series set for Stockholm this weekend

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A team of three British triathletes travels to Stockholm for the eighth round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Stockholm this weekend. Jess Learmonth, India Lee and Matt Sharp are set for the challenging Olympic distance race in the Swedish capital.

Stockholm hosts the penultimate round of the ITU World Triathlon Series before the Grand Final in Chicago next month. It has attracted defending ITU world champion, Javier Gomez (ESP), but women’s champion, Gwen Jorgensen (USA), is sitting out having already achieved maximum 4000 points to carry into the Final.

Learmonth and Lee race on Saturday, and Sharp is set for Sunday. They’ll start outside the town hall with a two lap 1500m swim, then follow a twisty nine-lap 40km bike course over cobbles, which finishes at the Royal Palace ready to start a four lap 10km run. Often a sprint course in the past, the course has doubled in length and has a new route with a split transition.

Lee races again having competed in the Rio Test Event earlier this month. Learmonth should be near the front after the 1500m swim. With strong cyclists, including Olympic Champion, Nicola Spirig (SUI), likely to relish the cobbles, the race could be very interesting.

Gomez is the favourite in the men’s race with compatriots, Mario Mola and Fernando Alarza, ranked second and third. Sharp starts in the 51st ranking position having not competed in the Series so far this season, but he has finished as high as fifth in a previous round in 2013.  

Britain’s leading women are focusing on the Grand Final rather than racing this weekend. Non Stanford and Vicky Holland could achieve Rio pre selection if they can finish on the Chicago podium having already won medals at the Test Event. Former ITU World Champion, Helen Jenkins, and Commonwealth Champion, Jodie Stimpson, are also in good form and looking to end the season on a high in Chicago.

It is hoped that Jonathan Brownlee will be fit for the Grand Final following a stress fracture in his leg. Alistair Brownlee is taking advice on an ankle injury and has ruled himself out of Stockholm and the next round in Edmonton in two weeks time.

The Vattenfall World Triathlon Stockholm will feature on the BBC this weekend at the following times:

Saturday
1120 – 1345: women’s race live on Red Button

Sunday:
1500 – 1615: women’s highlights on BBC2
1430 – 1650: men’s race live on the BBC Sport website and Connected TVs
1715 – 1800: men’s highlights on BBC2

British triathletes racing at Vattenfall World Triathlon Stockholm: 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Jessica Learmonth
India Lee
Matthew Sharp

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