ITU World Cup season kicks off in Mooloolaba this weekend

Claire Duncan March 9, 2016

Mooloolaba, Australia plays host to the first ITU World Cup event of the season this weekend on March 12th.

This is the 14th year Mooloolaba is hosting an ITU event. This year’s world cup sprint event features a new swim and run course, providing more hills for triathletes to run.

Canada's Amelie Kretz riding her way to 2nd place at the 2015 World Cup in Mooloolaba. — Canada’s Amelie Kretz riding her way to 2nd place at the 2015 World Cup in Mooloolaba.

Coming off her WTS Abu Dhabi win last weekend, Britain’s Jodie Stimpson heads to the Sunshine Coast intending to rack up another victory. Australia’s Ashleigh Gentile, the runner-up last weekend, joins her on the start line. Both athletes are previous Mooloolaba medalists.

Canada may not have any female athletes lining up in Mooloolaba this weekend, but on the men’s side Kyle Jones, Michael Lori and Alexis Lepage will race for the second weekend in a row.

Lori started his season on a high note, placing third at the OTU Sprint Triathlon Oceania Cup last weekend. Lepage, who placed 7th in the same race, hopes to earn a strong result this weekend as well. Jones was pleased with his ninth place finish last weekend but hopes for an even stronger placing this weekend to help his chances of securing a spot on Canada’s Olympic team for the second Games in a row.

Spain’s Mario Mola, who won his second consecutive WTS Abu Dhabi title last weekend, will be hard to beat in the men’s field. The No. 1 ranked triathlete has an even better record in the sprint distance.

Full start lists here.