from triathlon.org…
One week after the season kicked off in Mooloolaba, Australia last weekend, the BG Triathlon World Cup series shifts to New Plymouth on the North Island of New Zealand. Since taking gold and silver at the Athens Olympics, the small country has become a triathlon powerhouse, producing numerous world cup winners including 2004 Olympic silver medalist Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, along with the mighty women’s trio of Samantha Warriner, Debbie Tanner and Andrea Hewitt; all world cup winners. In 2005 in New Plymouth, Docherty and Gemmell delighted the home crowds with a Kiwi gold-silver sweep and hope to duplicate that success in 2008.
Last year’s world number three and 5-time world cup winner Samantha Warriner opens her 2008 campaign at home this weekend after opting to skip the season opener in Mooloolaba. Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels will dual again, vying for Olympic selection. Hewitt pulled ahead of Samuels in the race for Beijing after finishing as the top Kiwi in Mooloolaba last weekend, a designated Olympic qualifier for Triathlon New Zealand. A large Austrian contingent that includes Olympic gold medalist Kate Allen is expected to make the trip as New Plymouth is a designated Olympic qualifier for the Austrians.
A strong Aussie team will be in New Plymouth including Emma Moffatt, and last weekend’s surprise performer Alee Sharp, who was the second Australian across the line, behind only the winner Emma Snowsill. Swede Lisa Norden will also be on the start line, looking to ride the momentum of her first career world cup podium in Mooloolaba. As part of Team BG, she was the first Swedish triathlete to ever win a world cup medal in ITU history. New Plymouth will be the second world cup of 2008 for Team BG. Click here to read more on Team BG
In the elite men’s field, Javier Gomez of Spain looks to continue his world cup mastery. He has medaled in 14 consecutive world cup events and goes for 15 in New Plymouth. His decisive victory in Mooloolaba was the eighth world cup title of his career, which pulled him into a tie with Aussie great Miles Stewart for fourth among all-time world cup winners. His eight world cup wins are more than any other European man in ITU history. In fact, the only European triathlete who owns more world cup victories is Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal.
So who stands in his way for win number nine? The dangerous Kiwi tandem of Docherty and Gemmell for starters. Docherty is coming off a fourth place finish in Mooloolaba while Gemmell is kicking off his 2008 season. The home team also includes two-time junior world champion Terenzo Bozzone who has inched ahead of Shane Reed as the leading contender for the third and final Olympic spot after finishing ahead of Reed in Mooloolaba. Reed, the 208 Oceania champion looks to bounce back at home this Sunday. Also expected to contend for the podium is Brad Kahlefeldt, who’s coming off a silver showing in Mooloolaba.
