Fab frosh Findlay favored at Budapest
With three-time ITU World Champ, two-time Hy-Vee $200,000 winner, and 2008 Olympic and former Commonwealth Games champion Emma Snowsill still dealing with physical issues, there is a rookie sheriff in the women’s ITU circuit. This season’s sensational latecomer-newcomer Paula Findlay of Canada crushed the fields at London and Kitzbuhel and is favored for the Dextro Energy ITU World Championship series Grand Final at Budapest. But with only two (albeit perfect) points scoring races, Findlay is out of the running for the WCS season points title, which measures the four best WCS results plus the Grand Final at Budapest, which offers double points.
That leaves Lisa Norden (1st at Hamburg, 2nd at Kitzbuhel) Emma Moffatt (defending champ with 2nds at Hy-Vee and Hamburg, 3rds at Sydney and Seoul) Andrea Hewitt (2nd at Sydney, 3rd at Kitzbuhel, 4th at London) Nicola Spirig (1st at Madrid and 2nd at London), and Helen Jenkins (3rds at Madrid, Hy-Vee, and London, 4th at Kitzbuhel) and Barbara Riveros-Diaz (1st at Sydney, 2nd at Seoul, 6th at Madrid) to shoot it out for the ITU’s World Championship Series season-long points title.
Women
Paula Findlay (CAN) 3-1
WCS points ranking 8
Carnac, Johnny Carson’s favorite crystal ball-reading prognosticator, just might have seen this coming after Findlay won a World Cup in Mazatlan and took 4th at the big-money Hy-Vee race. But anyone who saw Findlay decimate the elite fields at the final two races of the 2010 World Championship Series events in London and Kitzbuhel can see the red-headed young Canadian star is a cut above mere mortals right now.
Lisa Norden (SWE) 4-1
WCS points ranking 3
Norden started slow (5th at Sydney and 13th at Seoul) then closed with a great-mediocre-great string with a 1st at Hamburg, a 25th at London and a 2nd at Kitzbuhel. Just coming back to her 2009 late-season form where she lost a duel to the finish with Emma Moffatt for the Grand Final crown.
Emma Moffatt (AUS) 5-1
WCS points ranking 1
Ve-ry consistently excellent in 2010 (two 2nds and two 3rds but no wins on the World Championship Series trail) but lacking a tiny bit of firepower to give her the wins she earned in 2009. Still a good bet to repeat as WCS champion.
Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 6-1
WCS points ranking 2
Like Moffatt, no wins on the WCS trail in 2010. Nor did she win any sprint finishes as she did in 2009. But her one 2nd (Sydney), one 3rd (Kitzbuhel), one 4th (London) and three 5ths (Seoul, Hy-Vee and Hamburg) make her a great bet to take the silver in the WCS points chase.
Helen Jenkins (GBR) 7-1
WCS points ranking 4
The 2008 ITU World Champ remains a consistently excellent performer on the WCS circuit and at big money races (3rds at Madrid, Hy-Vee, and London, 4th at Kitzbuhel) but lacks a sprint kick that might take a win at Budapest. Very good bet for the podium at the Grand Final.
Nicola Spirig (SUI) 8-1
WCS points ranking 5
This Swiss lawyer pled her case for Budapest with an articulate 1st at Madrid, 2nd at London and 4th at Seoul. But fails to persuade she will close the deal thanks to a late-season 18th at Kitzbuhel.
Emma Snowsill (AUS) 9-1
WCS points ranking 24
Snowy is very likely the greatest Olympic distance woman triathlete of all time. But lingering injuries and maladies have delayed a full recovery from her 2009 woes – with her magnificent come-from-behind second $200,000 win at Hy-Vee the lone exception. Recovers fast and is always a threat to stun the field – but odds are quite long against her at this moment.
Daniela Ryf (SUI) 11-1
WCS points ranking 10
Strong Swiss cyclist won Seoul, but faded in late season with 20th at Hamburg, 16th at London and 11th at Kitzbuhel. Will be better in 2011.
Kate Roberts (RSA) 12-1
WCS points ranking 7
Came into her own in 2010 with 4th at Hamburg, 6ths at Sydney and Kitzbuhel, 8th at London. Sure thing for top-10, longshot for top-5.
Barbara Riveros-Diaz (CHI) 13-1
WCS points ranking 6
Chilean sensation stood tall at the start of the season with a win at Sydney, 2nd at Seoul, and 6th at Madrid. Seemingly burned out, she finished with a 22nd at London and a 32nd at Kitzbuhel.
Laura Bennett (USA) 14-1
WCS points ranking 11
The four-time ITU World Championship medalist, 2007 Hy-Vee $200,000 winner and 4th place finisher at the 2008 Olympics has had gradual return approaching her 2007-2008 form this year with a 6th at Hy-Vee, a 7th at Hamburg, 5th at London and 8th at Kitzbuhel.
Mariko Adachi (JPN) 16-1
WCS points ranking 9
Started 2010 strong with a 4th at Sydney and 7th at Seoul but faderd to 12th at Hamburg and 30th at London.
Vicky Holland (GBR) 18-1
WCS points ranking 12
Closed well with a 5th at Hamburg and 6th at London.
Sarah Groff (USA) 20-1
WCS points ranking 17
Consistent performer closed the season well with an 8th at Hamburg, 12th at London and 10th at Kitzbuhel. Well within range of a top-10 at Budapest.
Sarah Haskins 21-1 WCS points ranking 15
Started well with 8th at Sydney, 10th at Seoul and 5th at Madrid but injuries leave her off her best form, normally a top 5 pick, at Budapest.
Ainhoa Murua (ESP) 24-1
WCS points ranking 16
Spanish star is looking to draw a four of a kind at Budapest after 9th place finishes at Madrid, Hamburg and Kitzbuhel.
Jodie Swallow (GBR) 26-1
Just one WCS finish, but her 7th place at London gives this Great Brit, the 2009 ITU long course world champion, a puncher’s chance at Budapest.
Aileen Morrison (IRL) 29-1
WCS points ranking 22
Her 3rd place at Hamburg, her only notable WCS finish, gives this newcomer Irish lass a longshot prayer at Budapest.
OLDIES BUT GOODIES These women have had excellent careers and some great seasons – but have been struggling this year. All of them have had the capacity to place top ten or even podium on their best days.
Jess Harrison (FRA) 27-1
WCS points ranking 14
Liz Blatchford (GBR) 28-1
WCS points ranking 18
Felicity Abram (AUS) 30-1
WCS points ranking 21
Anja Dittmer (GER) 31-1
WCS points ranking 20
Debbie Tanner (NZL) 32-1
WCS points ranking 19
Nicky Samuels (NZL) 35-1
WCS points ranking 29
Annabel Luxford (AUS) 38-1
WCS points ranking 40
Erin Densham (AUS) 40-1
WCS points ranking 51
