Elite racing returns to the City of Champions in Edmonton this weekend, and after seven races across five continents the champion will be decided in the final race. Edmonton first hosted the world championships in 2001 and the giants of triathlon return to do battle for supremacy once again at the 2014 TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final.
Javier Gomez (ESP) comes into Edmonton just 282 points clear of closest rival Jonathan Brownlee (GBR), which means it all comes down to this race for the world champion title.
Gomez has dominated the 2014 season with four wins at the World Triathlon Series in Auckland, Yokohama, Cape Town and Chicago, a fourth in Hamburg and sixth in London.
Prior to the World Triathlon Series race in Stockholm Gomez had a stranglehold on the title and only needed to finish no worse than seventh to claim his fourth world championship. But he came into that race sick and ended with a DNF against his name, suddenly the equation didn’t look so daunting for Brownlee.
Many had already conceded the championship to Gomez, including Brownlee. Gomez must finish no worse than fifth and Brownlee must win for the Brit to take back the title. Sounds simple but throw in the possibility that Alistair may work for his brother and Gomez with a chink in his armour, this is a long way from a given and will be a battle royale.
Hampered by injury this season the Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee (GBR) will want to finish his season on a high by taking out the final leg and most prestigious race of the season.
Challengers
The past few seasons has seen the emergence of training partners, Mario Mola (ESP) and Richard Murray (RSA). In 2014 Mola was triumphant in London and finished on the podium in Yokohama and Chicago, he is currently third on the overall point score. Should Gomez and Brownlee fail he is within striking distance.
Murray finished second behind Mola in London and grabbed bronze in Yokohama. He has been a consistent performer this season and their high end run speed install them as real threats to upset here in Edmonton.
The men keep raising the benchmark on speed and the 2014 season has produced some incredible battles and exciting racing and we expect with a title and huge prize purse on the line we’re in for another spectacular race.
Chances
There is also every chance the podium could see a number of contenders feature on the day as triathlon can throw up the unexpected. Some of our top picks include Luis Vincent (FRA) has suffered a series of injuries over the past few years but has the talent and skill to win.
Others include the ever consistent Dmitry Polyanskiy (RUS), Sven Reiderer (SUI), and Joao Pereira (POR) who finds himself in fourth on the points score are two podiums and not finishing out of the top ten this season.
The last time the world championship was held in Edmonton back in 2001 it was an Australian, Peter Robertson that stood on the top spot. This year Australia has another exciting prospect. Aaron Royal (AUS) has featured in the leading group this year and expect to see him in the mix on Sunday.
Follow all the events live with timing and text updates, at triathlon.org/live and on twitter at @triathlonlive. Don’t forget to pick who you think will be on the men’s and women’s podiums with TRIFECTA