With Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series Ranking leaders Emma Moffatt and Alistair Brownlee switching their attention to the Grand Final, this weekend's race in Yokohama will allow their pursuers to close the gap, placing them in striking distance for an assault on the lead at the Gold Coast in Australia in just three weeks time.
The Women
Although Australia Emma Moffatt's three wins and second place finish will ensure she goes to the Grand Final as the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series leader, victory for Sweden's Lisa Norden in Yokohama would take her to within just 120 points, meaning that should she win the Grand Final, Moffatt would also have to finish on the podium to take the world title.
With Moffatt's fitness in doubt as she tries to recover from plantar fasciitis, a condition affecting the heel, real pressure can be applied by Norden as the season draws to its exciting conclusion.
Also within striking distance are Andrea Hewitt from New Zealand and Daniela Ryf from Switzerland. Should Norden slip up in Japan they both stand excellent chances of going to the Gold Coast lying second in the series and with great chances of stealing the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship title from under Moffatt's nose.
Current standings:
| 1. | Emma Moffatt | AUS | 3140pts |
| 2. | Lisa Norden | SWE | 2534pts |
| 3. | Andrea Hewitt | NZL | 2455pts |
| 4. | Daniela Ryf | SUI | 2374pts |
| 5. | Helen Jenkins | GBR | 2146pts |
Maximum points after Yokohama:
| 1. | Emma Moffatt | AUS | 3140pts |
| 2. | Lisa Norden | SWE | 3020pts |
| 3. | Andrea Hewitt | NZL | 2826pts |
| 4. | Daniela Ryf | SUI | 2710pts |
| 5. | Sarah Haskins | USA | 2560pts |
Potential Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series Winners:
- Moffatt (AUS)
- Norden (SWE)
- Hewitt (NZL)
- Ryf (SUI)
- Jenkins (GBR)
- Tremblay (CAN)
- Haskins (USA)
- Spirig (SUI)
- Ide (JPN)
View the breakdown of the ranking points
The Men
Alistair Brownlee's remarkable four back to back victories in Madrid, Washington DC, Kitzbühel and London have cemented his Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series lead with a whopping 3200 points.
His main threat comes from Javier Gomez from Spain, the reigning world champion, who can increase his points total to 2965 with a win a Yokohama. If he closes the gap to just 235 points heading to the Grand Final, then should he also win on the Gold Coast then Brownlee cannot finish any lower than third at the final race of the year or risk losing the title.
Gomez can be assured that he will not have it all his own way in Japan with a stellar field assembled including third ranked athlete Maik Petzold from Germany. To make his task even harder, a crash on the bike in London left the Spaniard with road rash to his back and shoulders which could become painful during the race.
Current Standings:
| 1. | Alistair Brownlee | GBR | 3200pts |
| 2. | Maik Petzold | GER | 2493pts |
| 3. | Steffen Justus | GER | 2388pts |
| 4. | Javier Gomez | ESP | 2368pts |
| 5. | Brad Kahlefeldt | AUS | 2276pts |
Maximum points after Yokohama:
| 1. | Alistair Brownlee | GBR | 3200pts |
| 2. | Javier Gomez | ESP | 2965pts |
| 3. | Maik Petzold | GER | 2751pts |
| 4. | Kris Gemmell |
NZL | 2619pts |
| 5. | Jarrod Shoemaker | USA | 2606pts |
Potential Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series Winners:
- Brownlee (GBR)
- Petzold (GER)
- Justus (GER)
- Gomez (ESP)
- Kahlefeldt (AUS)
- Gemmell (NZL)
- Vidal (FRA)
- Shoemaker (USA)
- Polyansky (RUS)
- Brunkhankov (RUS)
- Atkinson (AUS)
- Frodeno (GER)
- Docherty (NZL)
