ABU DHABI // With Flora Duffy, the reigning ITU triathlon world champion pulling out due to injury, Friday’s Abu Dhabi triathling, the curtain-raiser for the 2017 ITU Triathlon World Series, is thrown wide open.
Duffy pulled out two days before the Abu Dhabi event but her absence makes the field no weaker with seven of the world’s top 10 women triathletes going head-to-head at Yas Marina.
Among the favourites are last year’s winner Jodie Stimpson of Britain, world No 3 Ai Ueda from Japan, US Olympians Katie Zaferes and Sarah True, world No 6 Andrea Hewitt from New Zealand and world No 8 Charlotte McShane of Australia. Between them they have won 71 races.
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■ Mario Mola: ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi hat-trick 'not going to be easy'
■ Jodie Stimpson: ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi a step into 'unknown'
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“It’s the first race of the season and there’s so much anxiety as who has prepared the best,” Stimpson said.
“Aside from the seven who are in the top 10 in the world, there will certainly be those aspiring to break into the top bracket. It definitely is going to be a close race.”
Missing from this year’s line-up is Rio Olympic Games gold medallist Gwen Jorgensen, who is taking time off to have a baby.
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