Brownlee targets sprint speed in Stockholm
23rd August 2012Olympic bronze medallist, Jonathan Brownlee is amongst the British triathletes sharpening up his sprint speed for the ITU World Triathlon Stockholm this weekend (25-26 August).
Stockholm has never previously hosted an ITU World Triathlon Series event, but is set to host both the individual sprint event and the ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships, for which the GE Great Britain Triathlon Team is currently the reigning world champions.
The individual event has points on offer towards the ITU world title, which will be decided in Auckland in October, and the triathlon mixed relay winners will be crowned ITU World Champions in Stockholm.
Brownlee has not had time for his feet to touch the ground since the London 2012 Olympic Games, but will face Olympic silver medal winner, Javier Gomez (Spain) and current ITU World Triathlon Series leader, Alexander Bryukhankov (Russia).
Will Clarke and Tim Don join Brownlee on the start line and David McNamee aims to continue his good form, whilst Adam Bowden and Ritchie Nicholls complete the men’s line-up.
Brownlee said: “I’m looking forward to going somewhere new and getting stuck into some racing. I’ve been so busy since the Olympics, but racing in Stockholm has always been in my plans because I have a realistic chance of challenging for the world title this year.”
He added: “It will be fun to do the team relay on Sunday too. It’s really exciting that team relays could be included in the Olympic Games in 2016. After seeing the huge crowds in Hyde Park, I am sure this event would be massively popular with spectators in Rio.”
London 2012 Olympian, Vicky Holland, starts the women’s event alongside Britain’s Non Stanford and Lois Rosindale. Sweden’s Olympic silver medal winner, Lisa Norden, is likely to attract a huge amount of home support in another close battle with Olympic bronze medallist, Erin Densham of Australia.
Holland and Brownlee team up with Clarke and Stanford in the triathlon mixed relay on Sunday. The GE Great Britain Triathlon Team won gold in this event in Lausanne last year, but in an exciting race of tiny margins, anything could happen this in 2012.
The International Triathlon Union is bidding for triathlon mixed relays to be included in Rio 2016, with a decision set to be made in September 2013. The addition of triathlon mixed relays would make an extra Olympic triathlon medal available, and provide a hugely entertaining spectator event.
Vicky Holland said: “It’s very unusual that men and women get to compete together in the same race, so it’s something different and exciting to be part of. I really hope this event makes it onto the programme in Rio because it’s such fun and really shows off our sport.”
The individual and relay events will be available to view on the BBC Red Button this weekend. A packaged highlights programme, including athlete interviews, will be shown Saturday 1st September on BBC1 at 1430-1600.
BBC Red Button schedule:
Men: Saturday 13.50 (UK time)
Women: Saturday 15.45
Triathlon Mixed Relay: Sunday 13.40
If you are unable to get the BBC Red Button coverage, it is also available via BBC online and triathlonlive.tv.
British line up in Stockholm:
Adam Bowden
Jonathan Brownlee
Will Clarke
Tim Don
David McNamee
Ritchie Nicholls
Vicky Holland
Lois Rosindale
Non Stanford