British Triathlon Super Series finale
26th July 2013The finale to the 2013 British Triathlon Super Series takes place at the Virgin Active London Triathlon on Sunday (28 July) with three Olympians competing as the capital celebrates one year on from the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In the men’s field, Team GB member Stuart Hayes will be competing in his second Super Series race of the season after the Toshiba Windsor Triathlon and the Londoner will be sure to take advantage of the local support.. Alongside Hayes, Mark Buckingham will be on the start line and will be aiming to deliver a top performance after an impressive victory at the recent Palamos ITU Triathlon World Cup.
The current leader of the British Triathlon Super Series, Tom Bishop won’t be racing in London leaving the title up for grabs despite a 48 point lead on his nearest rival Roger Witz Barnes. Bishop has won the first two races of the Super Series at the LLR Blenheim Triathlon and Toshiba Windsor Triathlon ensuring Witz Barnes will need to finish in the top 11 places this weekend to snatch the title from the Leeds based athlete.
In the women’s standings, Emma Pallant has already wrapped up the Super Series, following victory at the Toshiba Windsor Triathlon and second place finishes at both the LLR Blenheim Triathlon and more recent British Triathlon Championships Liverpool.
Pallant made her debut in triathlon at last year’s Virgin Active London Triathlon and is looking forward to racing the event one year into her triathlon career, commenting: “London was my first ever triathlon last, so this is the first time I will do a race I have actually competed in before. I have learnt so much from my coaches Michelle Dillon and Stuart Hayes this year and feel very much more confident going into this race. It has been a great debut season for me and I am really happy to win the Super Series title in my first year.”
It will be a tough women’s race in London as world number two Jodie Stimpson will return to domestic action after yet another podium performance in the ITU World Triathlon Series in Hamburg last weekend. Alongside Stimpson, two members of Team GB, Vicky Holland and Lucy Hall will also race as Holland aims for her second victory in the Super Series after winning in Blenheim earlier this season.
The Virgin Active London Triathlon will have an hour-long highlights programme broadcast on Channel 4 on 11 August at 7am, repeated on Sky Sports 4 during August.
Triathlon fans who missed the last race of the British Triathlon Super Series in Liverpool can watch an hour-long highlights programme on Channel 4 this Sunday 28 July at 7am. The programme will feature not only the elite and paratriathlon action but also many of the aspirant GB Age-Group athletes who were aiming to qualify for the ITU Age-Group World Championships in September.
The Virgin Active London Triathlon isn’t the only triathlon action in the capital this season, as the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London welcomes the world’s best back to Hyde Pak from 11 to 15 September. The free-to-view event includes elite, paratriathlon and age-group ITU World Championship racing with over 1,000 GB Age-Group athletes in action as they have the unique opportunity to compete for world titles in front of their friends and family.