ITU World Championship Series is in Sydney this Weekend!

The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series officially starts this weekend.  This olympic distance race series  attracts the most competitive triathletes from around the world. Most of which will be trying to represent their countries at the upcoming 2011 London Olympics. These Races are draft legal allowing elite athletes to sit on the back of fast riders and block some winds, increasing the packs speed. 

Australia's Harbour City will be be the starting location for these top 10 triathletes.  The 1.5 km swim will start in the beautiful Farm Cove just adjacent to the Sydney Opera House, then will proceed to the bike course of 40 km on Macquarie Street where these elite athletes will make the turnaround loop at College Street where they will conclude the run section of 10 km on the same loop. I am sure most of the athletes are not impressed with the run course overlapping the bike course but the route will be a fast one. Top athletes to watch in Sydney are Javier Gomez, Alistair Brownlee, and Jan Frodeno. But the two favorites will be Gomez (Reigning World Champion) and Frodeno, as Frodeno is looking to take the World Champion position for 2011. Really could be anyone's race. 

"It’s a ten out of ten in the men’s field, with each of the top-10 men from last year’s World Series on the Sydney start list. It’s also the first time since last year’s Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Grand Final Budapest that Javier Gomez, Alistair Brownlee and Jan Frodeno will meet. In that race, Frodeno was in contention for the podium but finished a disappointing 41st, missing the podium for the second straight season. It’s always an intriguing battle between the 2010 world champion, 2009 world champion and 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallist, and it’s also rare to have it so early in the season. Reigning World Champion Gomez has already started his 2011 triathlon season in Australia, at the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup, but didn’t quite sweep the field like most were predicting and finished fifth. Instead Brad Kahlefeldt led rising Australian Brendan Sexton and Frenchman David Hauss to the line. Sven Riederer and Courtney Atkinson also raced in Mooloolaba, and it will be interesting to see whether those that did will be better for the hit-out or are outpaced by fresh legs. For Hauss, it could have only increased his confidence in Australia, he made it onto the podium in the Sydney race last year."

Weather should be ideal racing conditions with temperatures in the mid 70s and will bring out some fast racing.  My predictions on who will bring out the win lean towards Jan Frodeno as he seems to be out for blood against Gomez.  But don't leave out local favorites, Courtney Atkinson or Brendan Sexton.  Sexton, coming off of a runner-up finish in Mooloolaba, will definitely be in contention.  Check out the ITU Triathlon website for more details about the series and races.  ITU TRIATHLON