One of the top female triathletes in the world has offered a fresh take on Flora Duffy's "second-season syndrome", pointing out that competition is notoriously tougher during the countdown to an Olympics.

Lauren Groves, who races in tomorrow's inaugural Escape to Bermuda Triathlon, believes Duffy must not dwell on her 'annus horribilis', which has seen her fail to improve on her sensational debut season.

Groves, a 2007 Pan-Am Games bronze medallist, admits this season has also not been so fruitful as her previous and simply puts it down to rival athletes stepping up a notch as the Beijing Olympics looming ever closer.

"Competition definitely intensifies before an Olympics," said Groves who is the only Canadian female to have pre-qualified for the Beijing Olympics. "This year hasn't been as good for me either. That's just the way it is and because of what's at stake athletes do step up there game.

"For instance the 2009 season will not be as difficult because it will be the first after Beijing, competition naturally eases up. Flora's a very talented triathlete and she hasn't suddenly got worse. It's possibly that some of experienced athletes have just stepped up."

Since starting her second campaign with a career-best fifth place finish in Lisbon, Duffy has endured a turbulent season, failing to finish the Madrid World Cup BG and coming last in the Salford World Cup BG in July.

But the 19-year-old remains on track to achieve her primary goal, a place at the next summer's Olympics, and Groves insists the Paget-born youngster should taker heart from her scintillating displays of the past.

"Flora's has already shown what she's capable of and has finished in the top ten in World Cup races," Groves said. "She's so talented and young; I didn't event start until I was 19 after being inspired after watching the 2000 Sydney Olympics."

Duffy is not competing in the Escape to Bermuda Triathlon, but is no stranger to a number of those who are. Her good friend Jenna Shoemaker, from the US, is one of eight professional female triathletes taking on the gruelling challenge. She believes a tougher follow-up season is an occupational hazard for many young triathletes.

"Flora's one of my good friends and we've raced together," said the 23-year-old, who finished 12th at the Corner Brook World Cup race in 2005. "I know she's had a tougher second year and that's what happened to me too. I think you come into success and when times get hard if you haven't taken the natural progression to get there you really have to figure it out and get through. I was finishing college and had quite a lot other things distracting me, but I can really focus on training now and I've got a coach that really works well with me. It's become my full-time job and that's what you need to be really successful.

"Flora's still in school and she's quite a bit younger than me and by 2012 she will be right where she wants to be. She's very, very, very good and to come into triathlon so quickly shows she's a natural. You watch her run and she just flies along. I really admire her."

Jenna's sister-in-law and fellow Escape to Bermuda competitor Alicia Kaye echoed those sentiments. "What's happened to Flora is exactly what happened to me. I can't claim to have had the success Flora has had; she's was phenomenal last season and is so talented. But you get to the point when your body has got to develop and all your training catches up with you. That definitely happened to me.

"Flora has all the talent in the world and time is on her side and I'm sure at the 2012 London Olympics, or even 2008 Beijing Olympics, things will come together for her. She just needs to get used to her new body."