The Windsor Duathlon takes place at Windsor Great Park this Sunday (3 April 2016) with Britain’s top elite, age-group and paratriathletes set to get the domestic season underway in style.

2015 ITU World Duathlon Champion, Emma Pallant is odds-on favourite to top the podium in the elite senior women’s race. Claiming gold in 2015’s ‘run-only’ event , at Rockingham Circuit, due to adverse weather conditions Emma looks to defend her British Elite Duathlon title this weekend. Training has been going well, with Emma commenting: “I’ve recently flown back to England after a great training block in Spain with Team Dillon and am looking forward to racing the first Windsor Duathlon, in hunt for a national duathlon title.

“Defending my World Duathlon title this year in June will be one of my season goals along with learning the ropes of 70.3 racing and maybe tackling a few track and field 5km races, if my bike legs will allow.”

Joining Emma on the start line is her current coach and two-time Olympian Michelle Dillon who, having retired in 2008, has been inspired to make a comeback on home soil.

“It is particularly special to have my own coach Michelle Dillon out there, toeing the elite start line 10 years on from being crowned World Duathlon Champion,” commented Emma, and it will be interesting to see how Michelle performs come Sunday.

Other athletes to look out for in the elite senior women’s race include regular Great Britain elite team duathlete, Gillian Palmer and long distance specialists Alice Hector and Vicky Gill.

The elite senior men’s race boasts a more open field, with a number of athletes in contention for the medals. Former Junior and Under 23 World Duathlon Champion Richard Horton looks in fine form following an excellent winters running season, while 2014’s National Duathlon Champion Phil Wylie looks to again regain his title.

The bronze medal winner in 2015, David Bishop looks to open his season with a strong performance after a fine international season last year, which saw him compete in his first elite ETU Triathlon European Championships.

Watch out for fast runners Calum Johnson and Carl Avery, as well as former Olympian and ITU World Triathlon Series winner, Stuart Hayes who is known for having a strong biking background.

In the elite junior women’s race, all eyes will be on the talented athletes moving up from the youth age category. Issy Morris is one to watch, having won the British Elite Youth Duathlon Championships in 2015, whilst last year’s British Triathlon Youth Super Series winner, Caitlin Roper also looks to impress over the sprint distance.

It’s a similar story in the elite junior men’s field, with 2015 British Triathlon Youth Super Series winner Travis Bramley stepping up an age group, as well as series bronze medallist Frederick Webb aiming to perform well in this season opener.

In the elite youth women’s race, look out for strong performances from the South West’s Imogen Moroney and Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club’s Abbie Williams. Daniel Slater from the North West and Toby Osman from Yorkshire will hope to feature highly in the elite youth men’s race after solid performances in 2015.

Lunchtime will see Britain’s best paratriathletes take to the sprint distance course, with the PT5 women’s field headed up by Alison Patrick, who recently met the British Triathlon automatic qualification criteria for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Alison said: “I am looking to use the duathlon to push race practices in the run up to Rio and would love to add a national title to my collection.”

Competing in the men’s PT4 category is Stefan Hoggan from Fife, whilst 2015 ETU Triathlon European Championships silver medallist, Faye McClelland will compete in the women’s PT4 category.

The elite seniors will compete over sprint distance duathlon (5km run, 20km bike, 2.5km run), battling it out for a share of a £5,000 prize fund, as well the first British Elite Championship honours up for grabs in the 2016 season. Juniors will also compete over sprint distance and will be aiming to secure points in the opening race of the 2016 British Triathlon Youth and Junior Super Series.

Youth duathletes will also be racing in the Youth Super Series opener and will compete over half the distance of the seniors (2.5km run, 10km bike, 1.25km run).

The standard distance event will act as the last of three qualification races for aspiring Great Britain Age-Group Team athletes looking to compete in the 2016 ITU Standard Distance Duathlon World Championships. This combined with multiple British Age-Group Champions returning to defend their titles this year, ensures we’re set to see some great battles.

All races will be held over a multi-lap format, making it a great event for spectators to enjoy within the walls of the magnificent Windsor Great Park. Spectators will be well looked after, with the spectator village boasting a host of concessions to help friends and family have a memorable day out. However, if you can’t make it down to the park, British Triathlon will be hosting comprehensive live timing available on www.britishtriathlon.org, as well as updates of the action on twitter (@BritTri) and Facebook (BritishTriathlon).