Olympic fever has gripped the capital and now the gold medals are starting to flow for Team GB. One sport where we are in with a very good chance is triathlon, and the best news is that it is taking place in Central London and is free to watch around most of the course.
The women’s race starts with a 1500m swim in the Serpentine at 9am tomorrow Saturday 4th August. The athletes then jump straight on their bikes for a 40km ride consisting of several loops taking in Buckingham Place and Hyde Park Corner. Finally, a 10km run around the Serpentine lake and into the finish in around two hours.
Great Britain has an excellent chance with Helen Jenkins, current world series champion and winner of the test event last Summer. The competition will be tough, look out for Nicola Spirig of Switzerland, Paula Findlay of Canada and Lisa Norden of Sweden to be in the mix for medals.
The men’s race on Tuesday 7th August at 11.30am, run over an identical course, is a different story entirely. The Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, are just about unbeatable, with older brother Alistair having the edge. Born and bred and still living in Yorkshire, they eschew the warm weather altitude training of most finely honed athletes, preferring a small terraced house as a training base near the Yorkshire moors. If anyone comes close to challenging their dominance it will be Spaniard Javier Gomez and the Russian Alexander Bryukhankov.
Triathlon can be a cruel sport though and crashes, punctures or illness are the most likely threat to the result that all British fans of triathlon are hoping for – a one two for the Brownlee's.
This event is a great spectator sport with athletes riding and running past several times plus some historic backdrops around Central London. Don’t miss the chance to say you were there!