Dame Flora Duffy Ready For Las Vegas T100
Dame Flora Duffy said she is determined to “fight for every position” as she gears up for the Lake Las Vegas T100 Triathlon World Tour professional women’s race on Saturday [October 19].
The five-time Olympian competed in her first race of the series in Ibiza, Spain, last month and finished in ninth place.
Vegas marks the sixth leg of the seven-race series, culminating with the World Championship Grand Final in Dubai on November 16 and 17.
Jointly launched by the Professional Triathletes Organisation [PTO] and the governing body World Triathlon, the T100 features seven 100-kilometre races with a prize pool of $7 million. Each race boasts a prize fund of $250,000, including $25,000 for the winner.
“I’m excited to go back to this venue and do a completely different triathlon style,” Duffy shared on the T100 social media.
“I hope I can give one hundred per cent of myself. It’s easier to give one hundred per cent if you’re at the front, fighting for the win or the podium.”
With No-1 ranked Ashleigh Gentle, of Australia, sitting out Vegas, second- and third-ranked athletes India Lee, of Britain, and Taylor Knibb, of the United States, will be among the favourites for victory as they look to move up to the top spot.
Meanwhile, Duffy will hope to build on her showing in Ibiza.
“Everyone wants to be on the podium,” she said. “This is a series where every position matters, and it really matters because this is the final race before the Grand Final.
“I’m preparing myself to give one hundred per cent, not give up, and fight for every place.”
The 37-year-old stressed the importance of adopting a positive mindset as she becomes accustomed to the longer distance [2-kilometre swim, 80km bike, 18km run].
“I come into these races having achieved quite a lot in the short course, but that doesn’t really mean anything,” Duffy said.
“Yeah, I might have won an Olympics, but that doesn’t mean too much racing over the 100km distance because it’s really different.”
Duffy, a four-time World Triathlon Championship Series champion, said she is determined to become a force in the T100 and challenge regularly for the podium.
“I love to race and be competitive, but I don’t want to be making up the numbers,” she added.
“I want to be fighting for the win, fighting for the podium – that’s definitely my goal racing this series.”
