TRIATHLON

ITU World Triathlon Series hits halfway mark in Japan

By International Triathlon Union (ITU)

Yokohama this weekend marks the fifth race and halfway stage in the 2015 ITU World Triathlon Series, in a season that has so far provided great contrast between the men and women in regards the competitive nature of the Series. While the women’s racing has been dominated by one name, the men are sharing the glory a little more liberally.

Gwen Jorgensen (USA) returns in hopes of continuing her undefeated streak, which she started in Yokohama last year, but will face tough competition with Non Stanford (GBR) returning for the first time since winning the World Championship title over Jorgensen in 2013. In the men's race, Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee returns after a win in Cape Town to face a stiff contingency of Spanish men that include Javier Gomez and Mario Mola.

Click here for the women's preview
Click here for the men's preview

ABOUT THE RACE:
The ITU World Triathlon Series returns to Yokohama for the fifth time. The series first appeared in Japan in 2009. The Japanese portal city skipped the 2010 series, but it reappeared on the WTS calendar in 2011. Due to the devastating earthquake, the event was postponed to later that year with ranking points counting towards to the 2012 season. 

SCHEDULE:
Elite Women
Saturday 16 May - 10:05 UTC/GMT +9 Click here for the time in your area
Elite Men
Saturday 16 May - 13:05 UTC/GMT+9 Click here for the time in your area

WEBSITES:
http://yokohama.triathlon.org/

START LISTS:
Click here for the women's start list
Click here for the men's start list

PRIZE MONEY:
$150,000 USD (equal for men & women) 

LIVE COVERAGE:
Follow all the events live with timing and text updates, at triathlonlive.tv and on twitter at @triathlonlive. Below is a media login to watch the races for media use only. 

COURSE PROFILE:
Swim (1500m) - Two-laps for a 1500m swim in the sea near Osambashi pier.
Bike (40km) - Five, 8km laps that begin and end in Yamashita park.The bike snakes around the giant Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel and Yokohama's waterfront.
Run (10km) - Four 2.5km laps around the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Building
STORIES TO WATCH FOR:

Jorgensen and Stanford meet again
Gwen Jorgensen (USA) has simply made no race of any event she has taken part in so far this year, winning all three WTS in which she started before taking some well-deserved time out in Cape Town where Vicky Holland(GBR) raced superbly to gold. Holland won’t back up in Yokohama but the tall long-striding American does return to a venue at which she has a great record, winning the past two times here including the posting of an amazing 32:44 10k run split in 2013 that well and truly announced her on the world stage. Yokohama is where Jorgensen began her current winning streak, as she returns to Japan undefeated since winning there last year.

While Non Stanford (GBR) was forced to sit out the 2014 season, she left the ITU circuit on a high as she beat out none other than Jorgensen for the World Championship title in front of a home crowd in 2013. Stanford is one of the few women that can rival Jorgensen down the finish chute, making their meeting highly anticipated.

Alistair vs. the Spaniards
Alistair is looking to make up for lost time after injury kept the London Olympic champion out of the opening three rounds of the WTS – as a result he is just 12th on the Columbia Threadneedle rankings with only one start to his name. Few would bet against a fit-again Brownlee, who will no doubt be further boosted by another three weeks of training since the win in South Africa.

Javier Gomez and Mario Mola are not the only Spaniards in contention. Cue the ‘Spanish Armada’ clichés as the top three ranked athletes hail from the European powerhouse, with Fernando Alarza the next in rankings order on the start list. Four top ten’s in four races this season speaks to the 24-year-old Spaniard’s consistency, but the lack of a single podium suggests he is yet to fully crack the top echelon just yet.

PAST YOKOHAMA WINNERS

           WOMEN                        MEN  
2014      Gwen Jorgensen (USA)      Javier Gomez (ESP)
2013      Gwen Jorgensen (USA)      Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 
2012      Lisa Norden (SWE)             Joao Silva (POR) 
2011      Andrea Hewitt (NZL)           Joao Silva (POR)  
2009      Lisa Norden (SWE)             Jan Frodeno (GER)