Stars Hit Stockholm In Penultimate 2013 World Triathlon Series Race

As the penultimate race of the 2013 World Triathlon Series it's not surprising that the stars will turn out in Stockholm this weekend.

Both the men's and women's fields boast every athlete that is still within reach of claiming the 2013 ITU World Championship, and more who could still claim a place on the podium. This year Stockholm is a full Olympic distance race, after it debuted on the circuit in 2012 with a sprint distance. View the course here.

Elite Men's Preview

With a stellar line-up that includes Alistair Brownlee, Jonathan Brownlee,Javier Gomez, Mario Mola, Richard Murray, Joao Silva and Sven Riederer, the elite men's race at Stockholm already promises to be one of the most hotly contested all season. And when you then consider it's the penultimate race in a fascinating 2013 World Triathlon Series season where the race for rankings points will loom almost as large as the race outcome, it's must-watch action.

So far the 2013 season has been a rarity in that due to a late start to the season, neither Alistair Brownlee or Jonathan Brownlee has taken a lead in the overall rankings. Instead it's been Javier Gomez, Mario Mola and Joao Silva who have taken turns in the lead with super-consistent performances, while Richard Murray has also figured in the top-four and is currently sitting third. The Brownlee brothers currently sit in fifth and sixth, with almost 600 points needed to overtake current leader Gomez. It is plenty to make up, with but extra points on offer in the London Grand Final, it's still within reach. However, don't expect all those above them to be giving up their lead lightly, and going on this year it's likely that Gomez, Mola, Silva and Murray would all fancy their podium chances.

Doing well on the technical bike course, that comes complete with cobblestones in the old Gamla Stan area of Stockholm, could be key when it comes to the final outcomes.

Another interesting statistic to consider is that in their ITU careers, Alistair Brownlee, Jonathan Brownlee and Javier Gomez have raced against each other 13 times. Out of that 13, they have shared the podium four times which doesn't seem that foreboding until you unpick that those four came from the past five races they all hit the startline, in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Click here to view the Elite Men's Start List.

Elite Women's Preview

Germany's Anne Haug regained her spot at the top of the rankings after a stellar win at home in Hamburg last month, but overall there is very little that separates the pint-sized German star and the other women who have taken World Triathlon Series wins alongside her in 2013, Jodie Stimpson, Gwen Jorgensen and Non Stanford.

Haug's training Stimpson has had her best year on the ITU circuit and is within striking distance of her D-squad teammate due to her Kitzbuehel win and other podiums, while the USA's Gwen Jorgensen consistent 2013 season sees her currently sitting in third place. Then there is Great Britain's Non Stanford, the 2012 U23 World Champion who blew the field out of the water in a stunning Madrid performance and backed it up in Hamburg. Stanford will have fond memories of Stockholm, as with the team of Jonathan Brownlee, Vicky Holland and William Clarke she picked up a Team Triathlon World Championship here in 2012.

But it's also likely that none of these women will take the Stockholm title this year due to the return of Olympic silver medallist and 2012 Stockholm winner Lisa Norden. After taking the early part of the year to ramp up her distance, the Swedish star was always going to be primed to race at home.

Click here to view the Elite Women's Start List.

The 2013 ITU World Triathlon Stockholm gets underway on August 24 when the Elite Women start at 1.20pm, followed by the Elite Men's race at 3:30pm on Sunday August 25. Be sure to follow all the action live through the ITU's live video stream on www.triathlon.org/tv, or follow via Twitter at @triathlonlive.