Bermuda will host its first ITU World Triathlon event on Saturday as the second round of the 2018 Series visits the tiny North Atlantic island. Britain’s Vicky Holland, Jodie Stimpson and Georgia Taylor-Brown are amongst those hoping to take on the home-town hero and ITU world champion, Flora Duffy.

Britain has a small team of just three women competing in Bermuda. Jonny Brownlee was due to race but has withdrawn in order to focus on training having just returned from the Commonwealth Games on Gold Coast.

Vicky Holland won Commonwealth Mixed Relay silver and was fourth in individual race after having missed most of last season due to injury. The longer, standard distance race may suit her in Bermuda if she has recovered sufficiently from the travel and her efforts on the Gold Coast.

She said: “Bermuda will be my first Olympic distance race for nearly a year, and what a great place to be doing it! I’m pleased with how the season has started. I’m looking forward to getting in to the Series now and hoping I can put together a good set of results.”

Jodie Stimpson is another athlete returning from long-term injury. She and Georgia Taylor-Brown both raced at the Gran Canaria ETU Sprint Triathlon European Cup last month and finished on the top two spots of the podium, with 24 year-old Taylor-Brown taking the victory by a margin of seven seconds.

Stimpson said: “This is a new World Series venue, so I really wanted to come to Bermuda. It’s my first big race of the season, so I’m not sure what to expect, but it will be good blow off the winter cobwebs and start to really focus on the season ahead. The aim is to be in my best shape in August and September."

Taylor-Brown’s step up to senior racing will be interesting to follow this season after some really encouraging results last year. All three British women have an excellent opportunity to put good early-season points on the board as the season builds towards the Grand Final, back on the Gold Coast, in September.

Flora Duffy will be the crowd favourite, racing a global event at home for the first time ever. In the men’s race, Commonwealth champion Henri Shoeman (RSA) could continue his good run of results having also won the first round of the Series in Abu Dhabi, but he faces a high-quality field, including reigning world champion, Mario Mola (ESP), Fernando Alarza (ESP), Vincent Luis (FRA), Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) and compatriot, Richard Murray.

How to watch:

Saturday’s men’s race starts at 5pm UK time followed by the women at 8pm. The races are live via the BBC Red Button and online. Sunday’s highlights package at 11am on BBC2 will feature Jess Learmonth as a guest presenter.

Forthcoming ITU World Triathlon Series dates:

12 May: ITU World Triathlon Yokohama
7 Jun: ITU World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series Nottingham – Grandstand tickets available
10 Jun: ITU World Triathlon Leeds – Grandstand tickets available
14 Jul: ITU World Triathlon Hamburg
27-29: Jul ITU World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series Edmonton
27-29: Jul ITU World Triathlon Edmonton
25-26: Aug ITU World Triathlon Montreal
12-16: Sep ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast