Flora Duffy, the Bermuda triathlete, can clinch the US Xterra Series with a solid showing at today’s US National Championships in Ogden, Utah.

The two-times Olympian tops the leaderboard heading into the final race of the series where she requires a finish of fourth or better to land the overall championship.

While confident that she can achieve her objective, Duffy admits that her task is a daunting one, especially competing among a formidable field on a demanding course at high altitude.

“It will be a very tough race because it is at altitude and there is a lot of demanding climbing on the bike course,” the 26-year-old athlete said.

“I pre-rode the course this morning and found it very hard — not so much technically demanding but more so physically.

“The run is also very hard, as most of it is uphill. The race starts and finishes at a ski resort in Ogden, so as you can imagine, the only way is up.

“It is a very competitive field, too, on the women’s side. Two strong women who I have not raced since Maui last year will be on the start line. They will be challenging to beat.

“However, all in all, I am really excited to race and see what sort of form I have. Ideally, I have a solid race and maintain my lead in the US Xterra Series.

“It is the final of the US Xterra Series, which I am leading. To win the series, I have to finish fourth or higher, which I am confident that I can do — as long as nothing major goes wrong, such as a mechanical on the bike.”

Duffy, who placed 20th at last month’s Triathlon World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, has gone the extra mile in training in recent weeks to bolster her chances for a successful campaign in Utah.

“Physically, I am in good shape as I have had a solid few weeks of training under my belt since returning from Edmonton,” she said.

Duffy has come on in leaps and bounds and experienced some of the finest moments of her career in recent months, having won three regional Xterra championships in the States, the Asia-Pacific Championship and South African Championship. She also finished second at the Zittau ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships in Germany and was eighth at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.