World Cup circuit continues with debut race in Salinas

While the World Triathlon Series came to a dramatic close last weekend in Cozumel, Mexico, the World Cup circuit carries on with three more stops marked on the 2016 calendar. This Sunday, the elites head to South America to compete in the debut race in Ecuador at the 2016 Salinas ITU World Cup. The race will be the first World Cup that Ecuador has held.

The race will be contested over a sprint distance course. The 750 metre on-lap swim, 20 kilometre four-lap bike and five kilometre two-lap run will see the athletes conquer the ocean and then make their way through the city and around a naval base. The women will compete first at 8:00am local time on Sunday, September 25, with the men following at 9:30am.

Women’s Preview The Americans will be leading the women’s field. Kirsten Kasper and Summer Cook are the one and two on the start list, but rightfully earned after both putting up career-high seasons as both women finished in the top twenty of the WTS ITU overall rankings. Kasper, who will be wearing the number one, started the year with two back-to-back bronze World Cup medals in Mooloolaba and New Plymouth. She has yet to win a World Cup gold though, but it is only a matter of time – and that time could be Sunday. Cook on the other hand will be giving her compatriot a run for her money. Cook has made a name for herself this year, first when she won the Chengdu World Cup and then again when she won WTS Edmonton. But Edmonton was the complete opposite conditions as it will be in Salinas, so we will have to see if she can perform.

However, there is a group of Rio Olympians that are set to toe the line on Sunday, which could make for a very interesting race.

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