Alarza, Mola and Stimpson, the big favorites to triumph at the Garmin Barcelona Triathlon

With around 5.200 participants, the trial will have up to 15 staggered departures to facilitate competition to the triathletes.

In just five years the test, which takes place this Sunday, has reached a size that places it as the third in Europe, behind those of Hamburg and London. Five thousand two hundred participants will be divided among the five modalities: olympic, sprint, super sprint, Olympic relay and sprint relay. The departure will take place at the Platja de la Nova Mar Bella and the arrival will be located at the Paseig Maritim Bogatell.

Despite being one of the last events on the calendar, Barcelona has a lot of pull among athletes and the poster that presents this triathlon is of real luxury, with the presence of the Majorcan Mario Mola, second in the last two editions and third in the grand final of the World Championship in London behind Javier Gómez Noya and Jonathan Brownlee, in addition to having the bronze in this year's European Championship. His most direct rival will be the Italian Alessandro Fabian, European runner-up. Another important rival will be the British Matt Sharp, U23 world champion two years ago, in addition to the Polish veteran Marek Jaskolka, fourth last year at Garmin Barcelona.

Other national level athletes who will take part are Fernando Alarza, who will defend his 2012 victory and runner-up in the U23 world championship and who this year has won the World Cup events in Banyoles and Quarteira (Portugal). Cesc Godoy is another of the contenders for victory. Spanish sprint champion, he won the ITU World Cup event in Tiszaujavaros (Hungary) in August.

In the women's section, we must highlight the British Jodie Stimpson, runner-up in the world and top favorite in Barcelona. Winner in Barcelona in 2009 and 2010, her main opponents will be the Basque Ainoha Murúa, the best Spanish triathlete in recent years and who has just revalidated her national title. Murúa won the Garmin Barcelona in 2011 and was second last year. The South African Gilian Sanders, the Madrid Marina Damlaimcourt and the Catalans Carolina Routier (runner-up in Spain and third in last year's edition) and Anna Godoy, both in the sub23 category, are other outstanding athletes who will compete in the test on Sunday.

The Garmin Barcelona Triathlon consolidates the tracings of last year introducing some improvements and taking great care in everything related to the safety of the participants. The police and volunteer deployment grows year after year and this edition incorporates new refreshment points. The test wants to integrate all types of athletes and will also take part physically disabled, as well as a group of boys, sponsored by Cesc Godoy, at risk of social exclusion.

Source: mundodeportivo.com