2011 ITU Triathlon World Cup Series:

Mooloolaba will once again open the ITU World Cup season. Photo: Triathlon.org

March 27: Mooloolaba, Australia
April 17: Ishigaki, Japan
May 8: Monterrey, Mexico
July 3: Edmonton, Canada
August 14: Tiszaujvaros, Hungary
October 9: Huatulco, Mexico
October 15: Tongyeong, South Korea
November 6: Guatapé, Colombia

The Series retains a consistency from 2010, welcomes back an old favorite and introduces an exciting new event. The ITU Triathlon World Cup Series will travel to Colombia for the first time since 1992. Guatapé will become the first South American city since Rio de Janeiro in 2004 to host a World Cup. Returning to the calendar after a 3-year hiatus is Edmonton, site of the 2001 World Championships and six time host of the World Cup Series. The city that now boasts a world class triathlon academy thanks to the legacy of the long-running World Cup there.

Along with the elite competitions, the 2011 ITU Triathlon World Cup Series will also attract some 15,000 athletes worldwide.

“ITU remains committed to delivering a World Cup series that’s comparable to the World Championship Series,” said Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member. “We are delighted the World Cup Series will travel to seven different countries and touch four continents in 2011. It’s a testament to the global nature of triathlon and the positive growth we envision for the future.”

Entering its 21st season, the ITU Triathlon World Cup began as ITU’s flagship series. Showcasing the world’s top triathletes, the World Cup Series has traveled to 30 different countries since 1991, which plays a significant role to develop the sport and athletes across the world.

“Next year’s World Cup series is an exciting mix of new events and long-running races with a strong place in ITU history,” Casado added. “We’re proud to offer a dynamic series with cities that have shown to be incredible hosts and proven to be among the athletes’ favorites.”

Earlier this month, ITU also announced its 2011 calendar of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series, the highest-profile international triathlon circuit. Four best scores in the world championship series events and the ITU Triathlon World Cup events, plus the points gained in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championships Grand Final are considered as an athlete’s final score, which decides world champions of the year.

2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series:
April 9-10: Sydney, Australia
May 14-15: Yokohama, Japan
June 4-5: Madrid, Spain
June 18-19: Kitzbühel, Austria
July 16-17: Hamburg, Germany
August 6-7: London, Great Britain
Grand Final – September 10-11: Beijing, China

Qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games began in June of this year and continues until May 2012.

Click here to see the women’s photo gallery.

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The warm Pacific waters and temperate climate will come as a welcome relief for some of the competitors travelling from Europe and North America who are currently training within colder autumnal conditions. However with an ocean swim, hilly cycle course and strong competition, the event will be far from a holiday for the triathletes with last year’s winner, Kris Gemmell, describing the 2008 race as “the hardest world cup ever!”

Jarrod Shoemaker from the USA heads the men’s field with the Hamburg Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship winner looking to finish his year strongly following victory at the ITU Duathlon World Championships last month. Shoemaker finished as runner-up to Gemmell in 2009 and will be hoping to go one better, despite facing some tough competition.

Flying in from Europe are Germany’s 2007 world champion Daniel Unger and three time European champion, Frederic Belaubre from France. Both distinguished athletes struggled throughout much of the season and will be hoping to fire a warning shot across the bows of their opposition heading into the winter. Joining Belaubre is team mate Tony Moulai, another strong Frenchman with a European medal to his name.

The Russian pairing of Igor Sysoev and Ivan Tutukin should feature towards the head of the race alongside the experienced Ukrainian, Danylo Sapunov. Home support lies with Beijing Olympian Francisco Serrano with Costa Rica’s Leonardo Chacon one to watch out for from Pan America having finished fifth in last year’s race.

On the women’s side the experienced Jessica Harrison from France will be hoping to finish her excellent 2009 with another fine result. Having made the top ten three times during the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series, including a bronze medal at the Madrid event, she will start as the one to beat.

Alongside her on the start line will be compatriot Carole Peon although the young Ukrainian, Yuliya Sapunova, should prove to be a major threat. If the European under23 champion can put together a strong swim and make the front cycle pack, her running pedigree could see her win the charge to the line. Having featured strongly at both junior and under23 level, the youngster is starting to show signs of being a major threat within the senior ranks.

One athlete hoping for a dose of better luck is Denmark’s Helle Frederiksen who suffered during 2009 with two bad crashes in Kitzbuhel and London. Having hit the barrier coming into transition in Austria and then being brought down during an eight woman crash in the British capital, the Danish athlete will be hoping that she can make it to the finish line without incident in Mexico.

American hopes lie with super swimmers Hayley Peirsol and Sara McLarty. Peirsol, a former swimming world championship bronze medallist, is unbeaten during the swimming stage of her short triathlon career, and if she can instigate an early breakaway with team mate McLarty, the rest of the field will be forced to play catch up.

South American triathlon champion, Elizabeth Bravo from Ecuador, will be one of the dark horses going into Sunday’s race; the fast runner took second in the u23 women’s race at the Pan American Championships behind Barbara Riveros from Chile. 2008 Asian triathlon champion Ai Ueda will be another name to watch come race day.

The women’s race gets underway at 08:00 on Sunday morning with the men starting at 10:30am. Live timing can be found on the ITU website, Triathlon.org