The world’s top triathletes are anticipating a flat fast race as they prepare for the London round of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series.

This event marks the first and only time athletes will get to race the proposed course for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Defending champions Javier Gomez (ESP) and Paula Findlay (CAN) and Briton’s top athletes the Brownlee brothers met the media before competing in this weekend’s races.

Javier Gomez

On the challenges of the course:
“We have not seen the course yet but I think it’s not a complicated course. There’s no easy course, it depends on how fast the guys are going. Sometimes flat courses can be hard. The last 10k will be fast. The course is different from previous years but it’s also similar.

On the pressures of being a champion:
“Sunday is an important event but the big one is next year so I will train as hard as I can and give my best to the race. Four years ago I was winning every race and then I had some problems with the Olympic Games and finished fourth but I have learned from this.

Paula Findlay

On her injuries after pulling out of the Edmonton ITU Triathlon World Cup in July:
“It’s been quite a difficult four weeks since the race in Edmonton. I did this with the aim of being healthy for this week, unfortunately, it’s been a slow progress.

On this competition:
“I am here to learn and do the course, unfortunately I am not one hundred per cent. I am not in the form that I usually am going into these races. I am here to think about next year and learn about the intricacies of this course. Although this race is important I have to think about Beijing and London next year.

“The only reason I would pull out would be if I was at risk of making it worse for Beijing.”

Jonathan Brownlee:

On the media attention:
“There’s a lot of media focus on Alistair so I am in the background so it’s far easier for me.”

On the course:
“It’s flat and fast. Going into the run it will be a fast run, it has small hills. It won’t be like 2010. It will be a fast flat course.”

Alistair Brownlee

On his performance at the Beijing Olympics:
“Four years ago at the Olympics I did not know what I was doing, it was probably not the greatest tactics I have employed. I just went out there and gave it my best.”

On what motivates him:
“I get out of bed because I love training, racing and beating Johnny.”

On his Olympic strategy:
“I have to qualify first if this happens, then I can think about the next step. At the end of the day I have a race on Sunday that I have to try and win.”

On how Olympic qualification affects race:
“It can make things more cagey, the race people are watching each other and taking less risks.”

Earlier in the press conference,  Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member, addressed the media, along with Sarah Springman, President of the British Triathlon Federation and Robert Puestow, the event director. Also in attendance was Murray Bean, representing Tata Steel.

Watch all the exhilarating action from the comfort of your own home, or on the go via your mobile device. We will be offering full live video coverage of the race via triathlonlive.tv.

The 2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series London 2011 gets underway with the women’s race at 8:30am (all times local) on Saturday 6 August 6. The men’s race starts at 1pm on Sunday 7 August .