A record-breaking 2,500 athletes from 52 countries will take their marks for the third annual ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi as 92 of the world’s leading elite triathletes and 2,380 age group participants race on a brand new course on Yas Island.
Leading the charge is the strongest field of elite athletes to be found anywhere in this region, all vying for top honours in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
The elite field boasts countless World Championship titles, Olympic medals and an incredible total of 353 ITU World Series titles between them.
The women will compete on Friday, March 3, at 15:55 with six of the world’s top 10 women on the Abu Dhabi start list.
That includes Abu Dhabi’s reigning champion, Great Britain’s Jodie Stimpson who is looking forward to the race.
“There’s been a lot of positive changes in my life that have made me look forward to racing this weekend,” said Stimpson. “As an athlete you try and prepare for each race so when you’re chucked on any course you can handle it. That’s the athlete that I aspire to be.
“The course will certainly test me technically especially on the bike course, which is the bit that matters the most on this course, is where you have to be really on it.”
The men’s race takes place the following day on Saturday, March 4, at 15:55 where the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi’s top four superstars return to compete for the title.
Topping the list is 2016 ITU World Champion, Spain’s Mario Mola and crowd favourite, five-time ITU World Champion and two-time Olympic medallist, Javier Gomez.
“I’m excited to be here and racing ITU,” said Gomez who will face fierce competition from 26-year-old Mola who is intent on securing a hat-trick.
World Champ and defending Abu Dhabi champ, Mario Mola has some fierce competition! Check out the start list here https://t.co/CPQSwgnrk2 pic.twitter.com/nSq0G4iMDb
— WTS Abu Dhabi (@WTSAbuDhabi) February 19, 2017
“After the IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai last month I’ve been training well, with more speed needed for this race. I’m feeling good, I’m excited to be back and let’s see what happens this weekend.”
On whether targeting a hat-trick brings with it added pressure, Mola said: “Not really, I see it as a motivation to try new things as I’ve done in the past.
“It’s been a great way for me to start the year in Abu Dhabi and with it comes new challenges. Maybe I’ll do what I’ve done the past couple of years and see if it works to my favour this year as well.
“It’s great to have Javier here but with it, it creates a challenge, it’s always very hard to beat him in that top position. It is never easy and it wasn’t easy to get the title last year. I feel motivated and I am optimistic about this weekend’s race.”
“The competition is fierce this weekend with the world’s fastest triathletes uniting for the first time this season on an all-new course, all with their eye firmly set on winning the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi title,” said Race Director, Gary Marescia.
For amateurs, entries into the ITU World Triathlon’s Olympic distance which includes 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run has seen the biggest increase with more amateurs making the leap into the sport as triathlon grows in popularity in the region.
The event also sees the Junior Races – a fun event aimed at encouraging youngsters to get active – taking place Friday from 08:00.
The grassroots event, which has seen numbers double this year compared to 2015, will see close to 250 children participate across four race categories on Yas Island, cheered on by five-time world champion Javier Gomez.
The Race Village on Yas Island, will be open on Friday and Saturday from 06:30 and 05:30 respectively, to 18:30 and will feature a grandstand, bike park, a range of refreshment kiosks and a kids entertainment zone.
