The line up for WTS Yokohama includes Olympic medallist Jonathan Brownlee. This will be Jonny’s first race of the 2017 season after having to pull out of the earlier races in Abu Dhabi and the Gold Coast.
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Jonny said: “It’s good to be back in Japan, and it’s good to be back racing. I’ve been feeling strong in training, so I hope everything comes together for a good result on Saturday.”
Trying to stop Jonny topping the podium will be current and former ITU World Champions, Mario Mola and Javier Gomez of Spain, however Gomez has been suffering from toothache and an infected root canal we will have to wait and see if this has affected him.
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A painful toothache, that turned out to be an infected root canal has knocked me around this week with fever and put me on antibiotics. But thanks to the help of dentist Nana Salzfeld and her team I’ll try to be on the start line ready to give my best on Saturday in Yokohama. Also thanks to the ITU for the help! / He tenido una semana complicada con una infección en una muela que me ha dado, además de dolor, fiebre y me ha obligado a tratarme con antibióticos. Parece que voy mejor así que haré todo lo posible por estar en la salida de la WTS de Yokohama este sábado, para dar el 100% como siempre. Quiero agradecer a la dentista Nana Salzfeld y su equipo por tratarme en Tokio para estar bien lo antes posible. Y a la ITU por su ayuda!
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British hopes will also fall on Tom Bishop who raced a fantastic race in Abu Dhabi to finish second behind Gomez. Can he make the podium again?
Gordon Benson and five-time Yokohama top ten finisher, Adam Bowden make up the four GB men racing.
In the women’s series New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt has been the in-form athlete so far with two Series wins from two starts (Abu Dhabi and Gold Coast), however for the first time this year she has to race ITU Word Champion, Flora Duffy, who starts her 2017 campaign here.
Also hoping for a podium finish will be GB triathletes Non Stanford, who comes here after winning the Chengdu ITU World Cup last weekend, and Olympic bronze medal winner Vicky Holland.
Stanford said: “I’m feeling fairly relaxed and happy following the win in Chengdu last weekend. I’m looking forward to doing my first full distance race of the season and seeing where I am.”
Making up the British female team of five are Jess Learmonth, Lucy Hall and Sophie Coldwell, who have all scored World or European Cup wins this season. Expect them to attack the swim and bike courses in their usual style.
The course is flat, but the forecast rain and technical bike leg with lots of tight corners should suit all of the British athletes.
Britain’s paratriathletes, including Rio gold medal winner, Andy Lewis, start their international seasons in Yokohama as well this weekend.
How to watch
There will be live BBC Red Button coverage of the men and women’s elite races on Saturday and highlights on Sunday:
Women’s race: Live 2am, repeated 10:12am
Highlights: 1pm BBC2 (including interviews with Andy Lewis and Jonathan Brownlee)