Flora Duffy has withdrawn from this weekend’s season-opening ITU World Triathlon Series Abu Dhabi event because of a hip injury.

The defending champion got her 2017 season off to a flying start as she comfortably won her fourth straight Xterra South African Championship in Grabouw last weekend. However, it came at a price for the 29-year-old Bermudian, who has withdrawn from competing because of a nagging hip injury.

“Sadly I have pulled out of the #wtsabudhabi due to a hip issue which has been bothering me for the last 3½ weeks,” Duffy tweeted yesterday.

‘I’ve had to miss a bit of training and cut a few corners. The Xterra this past weekend was a small test to see where my hip was at (full disclosure I ran slow and carefully) but it flared up after the race.

“I don’t want to ruin my season by pushing through injury now. I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on, though!”

Duffy finished last weekend’s event in South Africa in 2hr 39min, with runner-up Marie Rabie, of South Africa, a distant 6½ minutes behind.

Duffy exited the water just seconds behind the first men, who included Richard Murray, one of the leaders on the ITU World Series circuit. He was making a rare appearance at an off-road triathlon and was the eventual men’s winner.

“Being the first race of the season, you don’t really know where you’re at,” said Duffy, who mentioned the hip injury after the race. “I was a little nervous, but everything went well and I had a lot of fun.

“I had a good swim, sticking to Mari’s feet. On the bike I worked hard on the climb, and went smoothly on the technical sections. I’m currently nursing a hip injury, so on the run I decided to practise more control. Xterra Grabouw is always special. It’s where I started. I’m very happy with my fourth victory.”

Organisers of the Abu Dhabi event were expecting seven of the world’s top ten female stars to be in the professional field on Yas Island, with Duffy meant to be among the favourites in one of the strongest women’s line-ups to appear at the event.

Included in the field are defending champion Jodie Stimpson, of Britain, Ai Ueda, the world No 3 from Japan, Katie Zaferes and Sarah True, of the United States, Andrea Hewitt, of New Zealand, and Charlotte McShane, the world No 8 from Australia.

Stimpson is looking forward to defending her title. “The Abu Dhabi win was one of the highlights of my 2016 season, so I can’t wait to return to the UAE and check out the new course,” she said. “This is a bucket-list race for most triathletes, so I am lucky to be joining such a strong women’s field on the start line.”