ITU World Triathlon Auckland showcases star-studded start lists

The second stop of the ITU World Triathlon Series touches down in Auckland this Sunday, which includes a star-studded roster of athletes all vying to take home the next WTS title in the season’s first standard distance race of the year. The world’s finest will battle it out on a choppy two-lap harbour swim, hilly eight-lap bike and finish it off with a four-lap run course.

Click here for the women's preview

Click here for the men's preview

ABOUT THE RACE:

Auckland joined the WTS calendar as the host of the Grand Final in 2012. That year, we were treated to a down to the line sprint finish between Jonathan Brownlee and Javier Gomez for the world title, with Gomez just edging the Brit out for the win. Gomez has repeated his gold medal performance every year since then, and lines up yet again to defend the title. Auckland has become a race favourite amongst athletes for its challenging bike course, while championed by spectators for its near-constant views of triathlon action.

SCHEDULE:

Elite Women

Sunday 29 March - 12:50pm UTC/GMT +13

Elite Men

Sunday 29 March - 16:40pm UTC/GMT+13

WEBSITES:

auckland.triathlon.org/

START LISTS:

Click here for the women's start list

Click here for the men's start list

PRIZE MONEY:

$150,000 USD (equal for men & women)

LIVE COVERAGE:

Follow all the events live with timing and text updates, at triathlonlive.tv and on twitter at @triathlonlive. Below is a media login to watch the races for media use only.

PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION.

User: media@triathlonlive.tv

Password: media20!5

COURSE PROFILE:

Swim (1.5km) - Athletes dive off a pontoon into a sheltered area next to Queens Wharf and will swim two laps. Wetsuits are not expected.

Bike (40km) -After transitioning on Queens Wharf, the first of eight laps starts at the waterfront and winds its way up Auckland's steep main street, Queen Street, with three separate climbs each lap.

Run (10km) - Four-lap, 10km that starts at the waterfront and heads along Quay and Queen streets, before the finish down on Queens Wharf.

STORIES TO WATCH FOR:

A course for strong cyclists

Defending World Champion Gwen Jorgensen (USA) lines up in Auckland as the one to chase with a win already under her belt this year. The Americans are on a hot streak right now, having finished 1-2 in the rankings last year, and having started out the 2015 season in the same way. With Katie Zaferes and Sarah True on the start list, expect some red, white, and blue on the podium.

Joining the lineup is New Zealand’s own Andrea Hewitt, whose cycling skills will serve her well on this leg-burning course. While Hewitt has yet to step on the podium in Auckland at a WTS race, she picked up a win in the race when it was a World Cup in 2011.But it’s Germany’s Anne Haug who knows true success in Auckland, having collected two gold and a silver medal here. Haug and Hewitt will have company on the bike with equally impressive riders Olympic silver medallist Lisa Norden and Flora Duffy toeing the line. If these ladies get away on the bike, it will be tough to reel them in.

Spain dominates men's start list

Mario Mola (ESP) will wear the No. 1 uniform on Sunday after an impressive and explosive start to the WTS circuit in Abu Dhabi. The defending World Champion Javier Gomez Noya (ESP) will be back in Auckland looking to earn his first Series title of the season. He will also be stepping up to the New Zealand start line as the reigning WTS Auckland champion three years over. He and Mola will have strong help from their compatriots, with the Spanish team featuring a full squad of six men on the starting line. Four of those six are also ranked in the top 10 making them a danger bunch of competitors. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) and Joao Silva (POR) are also set to headline the Auckland stop over. The Brit has finished second to Gomez on two occasions and his fifth-place in Abu Dhabi will have him gunning for gold.

PAST AUCKLAND WINNERS

WOMEN MEN

2014 ITU World Triathlon Series

Jodie Stimpson (GBR) Javier Gomez (ESP)

2013 ITU World Triathlon Series

Anne Haug (GER) Javier Gomez (ESP)

2012 ITU World Triathlon Series

Anne Haug (GER) Javier Gomez (ESP)

2011 ITU Triathlon World Cup

Andrea Hewitt (NZL) Kris Gemmell (NZL)

1998 ITU Triathlon World Cup

Michellie Jones (AUS) Hamish Carter (NZL)

1997 ITU Triathlon World Cup

Emma Carney (AUS) Miles Stewart (AUS)

1996 ITU Triathlon World Cup

Emma Carney (AUS) Miles Stewart (AUS)

1995 ITU Triathlon World Cup

Janet Hatfield (USA) Hamish Carter (NZL)

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