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Preview: New Plymouth ITU Triathlon World Cup

April 2, 2016
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It’s an exciting weekend of racing for Canadian long course and short course triathletes. As a stacked field of Canadian and international pros race under the sun at Ironman 70.3 California, an equally talented crew of Canadian Olympic hopefuls are getting ready for the second world cup of the season in New Plymouth. For many, this race is a chance to fine tune race strategies before WTS Gold Coast next weekend.

Women’s race

Canada’s Amelie Kretz and Sarah-Anne Brault line up against some of the fastest short course women in the sport, including their Wollongong Wizards training partner, world champion Gwen Jorgensen.

The Wollongong Wizards have been taking some time to train and get acclimatized in New Plymouth.

Kretz told TMC, “I’ve been in New Plymouth since Abu Dhabi because the training here is great! The riding and running is amazing. I am using the race as a race specific workout before Gold Coast. Training has been going well and I am looking forward to hit the start line again.”

When asked about the tough women’s competition, she said “It’s going to be a stacked race. I’m always looking forward to lining up against the best in the world. Gwen is a training partner and friend so it will feel like a normal training day which is good, it brings the stress levels down.”

Paula Findlay has removed herself from the women’s line up for tomorrow.

Full women’s start list here.

Men’s race

South Africa’s Richard Murray leads an impressive men’s field, with Canadians Tyler Mislawchuk, Michael Lori, Xavier Grenier Talavera and Alexis Lepage. Canada needs Mislawchuk to have a strong race to help secure a third men’s spot on our Olympic team. The 22-year-old was the top placing canuck in Abu Dhabi and has been putting in hard work with the Wollongong Wizards in hopes of making it to Rio this year.

Canada’s other three men are equally as determined and capable of a strong result. Both Lori and Grenier-Talavera have both podiumed at ITU development races so far this year. Lepage had some unfortunate luck at the world cup in Mooloolaba a few weekends ago, crashing on the bike after a slippery turn. He’s healed from his minor injuries and ready to go for his second major race of 2016.

Full men’s start list here.