The World Triathlon Series will be staged in Stockholm for a third time this Saturday, with the Swedish capital again featuring a sprint course just one week ahead of the Edmonton Grand Final.
As the last place to collect precious Threadneedle Ranking points, it will all be put on the line this weekend.
With major players like Gwen Jorgensen and Helen Jenkins out of Stockholm, the race should be Jodie Stimpson's for the taking. Stimpson just proved her top form in Glasgow when she won the Commonwealth Games and is familiar with the course, having finished fifth here last year. Stockholm will provide an important opportunity for Stimpson to replace results with an improved performance in a last ditch effort to inch closer to Jorgensen in the rankings.
However, standing on the highest spot on the podium won't be guaranteed with the likes of Vicky Holland (GBR), Kirsten Sweetland (CAN) and Sarah Groff (USA) on the start list. Holland beat out Stimpson here last year in fourth place and she'll no doubt want to shoot for that illusive WTS medal. She was in hot form in Glasgow with bronze, so Stockholm just might be her breakout race.
Likewise, Sweetland's bike has been killer all year long and the Canadian was able to put all three disciplines together in Glasgow for silver. Look for this former youth world champ to make moves in the lead up to the Grand Final in her native Canada.
 Kirsten Sweetland, Jodie Stimpson and Vicky Holland in Glasgow(Photo: ITU; click to enlarge) |
Groff struggled through the rankings last season but has put together a solid year so far, currently sitting in fifth in the rankings and will line up second this weekend. With Sweetland just behind her in sixth trailing only 361 points, Groff will need a good result in Stockholm to set her up in the Edmonton Grand Final. The fourth-ranked Emma Jackson is also missing from the start list making Stockholm that more important in the points hunt.
Maaike Caelers (NED) and Barbara Riveros (CHI) are no strangers to success in Stockholm, having earned silver and bronze there in 2012. However, there will be a new champion named in Stockholm with former winner Jorgensen and Sweden's own Lisa Norden not toeing the line.
Follow all the events live with timing and text updates, at triathlon.org/live and on twitter at @triathlonlive.
