Both Brownlees On WTS Stockholm Start List

The second half of the World Triathlon Series begins this weekend at the 2016 Vattenfall World Triathlon Stockholm. This Saturday, the men’s field will see an array of returning talent, including previous WTS Stockholm champions Alistair Brownlee and Jonathan Brownlee, as well as Spain’s Fernando Alarza compete in the two-lap 1500m swim, eight-lap 38.2km bike and 10km run event.

It is Alarza that will be wearing the golden number one this weekend. Alarza was recently named to the Spanish Olympic team, earning a berth to his first-ever Olympic Games. He is currently second overall in the Columbia Threadneedle rankings, after scoring a silver medal in Gold Coast and then winning in Cape Town. Alarza is one of only three men to win a WTS race this year.

However, both Brownlees line up as two of three men to have ever won in Stockholm. Only rival Javier Gomez has also won in Stockholm, but he will miss this year’s race due to illness. Older brother Alistair won the race in 2013, while Jonathan took the top spot in 2012 and 2014. They will both carry strong momentum into Stockholm, with Alistair coming off a win in his hometown of Leeds, and Jonathan having scored silver in the same race.

It was a long overdue win for Alistair, who battled injury much of the last two years and was forced to miss several races. Jonathan. meanwhile, has so far produced a consistent season with three podium performances this season to sit third in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings. The Brownlees already have a proven record in Stockholm, and will need little assistance getting out of the water early in an attempt to break away on the tough bike. Alarza will need to keep the brothers in close distance in the swim for a chance to overpower them.

Read more: Triathlon.org

See the complete start list here

RELATED PHOTOS: 2015 ITU WTS Stockholm – Men’s Race