Madrid, Spain (14 May 2014) - As the first race of Olympic qualification period ahead of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, Yokohama holds special significance in this year's World Triathlon Series. This Saturday marks the first opportunity to gain important points towards selection for a berth in Rio. And while the course may be flat, its technical bike corners require constant breaking from high speeds that guarantee a lingering burn for the athletes.
Yokohama will be the first race of the 2014 ITU World Triathlon Series that will see Javier Gomez (ESP), Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) and Alistair Brownlee (GBR) go head to head in combat. The trio will duke it out over a two-lap swim, nine-lap bike and four-lap standard distance course in the Yokohama harbour on Saturday. Meanwhile, the women will return all of its podium from last year with Jodie Stimpson (GBR) leading the charge, followed by Gwen Jorgensen (USA) and Emma Moffatt (AUS).
Click here to read the women's preview
Click here to read 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 17 May - 10:00 (UTC/GMT +9) Click here to time in your area
Elite Men - Saturday 17 May - 13:00 (UTC/GMT +9) Click here for time in your area
WEBSITE:
yokohama.triathlon.org
START LISTS:
Click here for women's start list
Click here for men's start list
LIVE COVERAGE:
Live video coverage from Yokohama will be available on race day at triathlonlive.tv or at @triathlonlive on Twitter.
Media are invited to watch the races live on triathlonlive.tv with a complimentary login:
User: media@triathlonlive.tv
Password: media2014TRI
**This login is complimentary for media only**
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY:
$180,000 USD (equal for men & women)
COURSE PROFILE:
Sprint Distance
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:
The podium returns
All of the 2013 Yokohama medallists will return to their spot of glory this year for another shot at important points towards the Threadneedle rankings. Last year Gwen Jorgensen (USA) collected her second consecutive career WTS win with her signature fiery run across the flat course. Behind her, Emma Moffatt (AUS) and Jodie Stimpson (GBR) gutted it out over the blue carpet with a smiling Moffatt just edging out the Brit.
The Gomez vs Brownlees facts
In the last 20 times that Javier Gomez and Alistair Brownlee have met at WTS races, Alistair has won on 15 of those occasions. But that was then and this is now. Gomez is not waiting to make a move in the Threadneedle rankings, having destroyed the competition, including younger Brownlee brother Jonathan, in the last two WTS events. But as we saw last year in San Diego when Alistair charged away from the competition for the win, missing the first few races of the season has no impact on his ability to win.
PREVIOUS YOKOHAMA WINNERS
WOMEN MEN
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)
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ITU Online Media Centre - http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001t5fEq0F6DnnCXWUV_ELcXc7azHuNeR3DVw_c35EM6DOArXCngODbRlEPFrDB-G5vkUOAcTvYqJCujiITPuGqvcm8RDcI5KyaWB9LInmWc2avMilWc1fDvogsfZHJC55aHsLoAZfvfnEYPZJtprx-jvB7gYnHH-PLfeu5nOrIaW8=&c=W4Mz3lKNV8u-2zMw4rpqFl5mFaCu3yWwpW-bey_uIq_nKhlyFDMEXA==&ch=COsnAAetX1m3vMVxBltiFxipFjYq_hGxZd22vfdiYSlmlI1ADQhzKA==
Feature include:
- High resolution and web resolution photo galleries (rights free for editorial use)
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- Access to ITU Media Guides
- Full image and press release database with full search functionality
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Broadcast Footage Available
For more information on broadcast news please contact Morgan Inglis at morgan.inglis@triathlon.org
For further information, please contact:
Erin Greene, Media Manager, ITU
Email: erin.greene@triathlon.org Mobile: +34 645 216 509
About the International Triathlon Union (ITU):
The International Triathlon Union is the world governing body for the Olympic sport of Triathlon and all related MultiSport disciplines including Duathlon, Aquathlon, Cross Triathlon and Winter Triathlon. ITU was founded in 1989 at the first ITU Congress in Avignon, France. It has maintained its headquarters in Vancouver, Canada since then and also has offices in Lausanne, Switzerland and Madrid, Spain. It now has over 167 affiliated National Federations on five continents and is the youngest International Federation in the Olympic Games. Triathlon was awarded Olympic Games status in 1994 and made its Olympic debut in Sydney 2000. Triathlon is also featured in the Asian Games, Pan American Games and Commonwealth Games. Paratriathlon was accepted into the Paralympic Games in 2010 and will make its Paralympic debut in Rio 2016. ITU is proudly committed to supporting the development of the sport worldwide through strong relationships with continental and national federations, working with its partners to offer a balanced sport development programme from grassroots to a high-performance level. For more information, visit: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001t5fEq0F6DnnCXWUV_ELcXc7azHuNeR3DVw_c35EM6DOArXCngODbRnb7LUgcJz9SZ5ghH_-6rl6x1FsIOB9RU5ZlTcyRsaaJOd3_tYhMsciO515C5qaV7TanM7RKKSmrEHL17ziaFpuN9107iqtk4Q==&c=W4Mz3lKNV8u-2zMw4rpqFl5mFaCu3yWwpW-bey_uIq_nKhlyFDMEXA==&ch=COsnAAetX1m3vMVxBltiFxipFjYq_hGxZd22vfdiYSlmlI1ADQhzKA==
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