Nine London Olympians will be racing at the third World Cup this Sunday in Huatulco, Mexico. The scorching heat is part of the challenge facing athletes with an ocean swim and a tough hill in the middle of the bike course and at the start of the run loop.
Austrian Olympian Lisa Perterer tops the women’s start list following a 12th-place finish in her 2013 season opener at the World Triathlon San Diego. Perterer’s main competition may come in the form of two other Olympians, Pamela Oliveira (BRA) and Claudia Rivas (MEX), both of whom raced to podium finishes last year in Huatulco. In addition to Oliveira and Rivas, two other top-10 finishers from last year are also on the start list – Yuliya Yelistratova (UKR) and Mateja Simic (SLO). These women will no doubt have an advantage over those without experience battling the course and the heat.
In the Men’s race, Aurelien Raphael (FRA) and Crisanto Grajales (MEX) have each garnered podium finishes in early-season Continental Cups and faced off against tough competition on the World Triathlon Series circuit in San Diego back in April.
But the real threat could come from Lukas Verzbicas (USA). The rising star put himself on the fast track to a break through season last year with his impressive run speed that earned him a win at the Banyoles World Cup. However, a training accident curtailed the second half of his season. Verzbicas returns to the ITU circuit and if his form is anything like last year, he will be one to watch on the run.
Both the men’s and women’s races will be held on Sunday May 19. The women begin at 8 a.m. (local time), with the men scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. (local time). Follow all the action live on twitter at triathlonlive.
Photo Credit: Rich Lam / ITU.