Teenage triathlete Flora Duffy has admitted to feeling the weight of expectancy on her tender shoulders following her sensational debut season, but insists: “No-one puts me under more pressure than myself”.

Duffy, the new darling of Bermudian sport, will once again be battling it out with triathlon’s elite when she makes her return to the World Cup stage in Madrid on Sunday.

The 19-year-old leaves for the Spanish capital today to prepare for the big race and is relishing the prospect of top-flight competition after missing the last World Cup event in South Africa due to other racing commitments.

Having taken the professional triathlon scene by storm in 2006 with a series of scintillating displays, many predicted a testing second season for the starlet who is widely tipped to become one of the top competitors in her sport.

But the former Warwick Academy student allayed any fears she may succumb to a bout of ‘second season syndrome’ by picking up where she left off with a career-best finish in the 2007 World Cup curtain raiser in Lisbon early this month.

“My debut season went beyond all realistic expectations and I suppose there is now more pressure on me to improve my performances,” she said.

“I am aware of the increased expectancy and I imagine the other competitors also take more notice of me now.

“But to be honest it doesn’t bother me at all — no-one puts me under more pressure than myself.

“My fifth place finish in the Lisbon BG World Cup was unbelievable and that has helped take some pressure off me.

“I was utterly shocked as it was a very strong event and I will be striving to build on that performance in Madrid.

“Preparations have been going to plan and I have had time to let my body recover since my last World Cup race.”

Sharing Duffy’s spotlight in the triathlon circles has been fellow junior athlete Kirsten Sweetland, who captured her first World Cup victory in South Africa — albeit in a race absent of many top performers.

And Duffy, who skipped the event to prepare for a race for her new professional team Poissy, concedes that a friendly rivalry has developed with the 18-year-old Canadian — a rivalry she is keen to renew in Madrid.

“It is all friendly stuff really but a rivalry has developed between Kirsten and myself. It is a rivalry which has been created by other people really as we are both of a similar age - but it’s healthy and keeps you on your toes.

“I am really looking forward to returning to World Cup action after missing the last race — hopefully a podium finish isn’t too far away.”

After Madrid the races will be coming thick and fast for Duffy with her next World Cup race in Vancouver, Canada, on June 10 and the Pan-Am Games in Brazil in July.