The ITU World Series heads for idyllic Bermuda for the second leg of the 2019 circuit, with an Olympic-distance course ready in and around Hamilton:
● Swim: 1,500 m: one lap of 700 m, then one lap of 800 m
● Bike: 40 km: 10 loops of a 4 km course, and
● Run: 10 km: 4 loops of a 2.5 km course.
Unfortunately, Bermudan star Flora Duffy is injured and won’t be racing, removing the local favorite from the program. But that leaves the door open for other favorites; in the opening race in Abu Dhabi (UAE):
Men:
1. 52:00 Mario Mola (ESP)
2. 52:03 Alex Yee (GBR)
3. 52:12 Fernando Alarza (ESP)
4. 52:14 Leo Bergere (FRA)
5. 52:15 Vincent Luis (FRA)
Mola has been unstoppable, winning four of eight races last season and in Abu Dhabi. He now has a medal streak of seven races in a row and nine of his last 10, and is looking for his fourth straight World Series title.
But Bermuda was the only last season where Mola didn’t win a medal, as Norwegians Casper Stornes, Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden went 1-2-3. And in the Abu Dhabi opener, Alex Yee was a surprise, winning his first World Series medal with a silver-medal finish.
Women:
1. 55:31 Katie Zaferes (USA)
2. 55:57 Taylor Spivey (USA)
3. 56:06 Jessica Learmonth (GBR)
4. 56:09 Taylor Knibb (USA)
5. 56:37 Non Stanford (GBR)
Zaferes won six medals in eight races last season and was impressive in the Sprint distance program in Abu Dhabi. In the Bermuda race last year, Duffy was the winner, followed by Vicky Holland (GBR) and Zaferes.
Look for results here.
