Previewing ITU Mooloolaba
ITU Triathlon World Cup season opener this weekend.
The 2013 ITU World Cup season will get underway in the familiar city of Mooloolaba this weekend. In its seventh year as the series opener and its 11th appearance on the ITU calendar, Mooloolaba’s electric atmosphere will no doubt set the tone for the remaining nine World Cups. While the race normally features a beach-start, the swim has been moved to the Maroochy River this year due to weather conditions. Similar to 2009, the course will now feature two transition zones with an extended bike course, but will remain unchanged on the run.
ABOUT THE RACE:
The tough course and incredible spectator support create an electric atmosphere makes Mooloolaba an athlete favourite race spot. Mooloolaba is a small beachside community on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, an hour north of Brisbane. The Olympic distance event is the centre piece of a three-day multisport festival, with 9000 competitors participating. The course starts with a swim in the Pacific Ocean, while the bike leg takes in the green hinterland, followed by a run that has ocean views the entire way.
SCHEDULE:
Elite Women
Sunday 17 March – 12:45pm UTC/GMT +10 Click here for the time in your area
Elite Men
Saturday 16 March – 15:00pm UTC/GMT+10
WEBSITES:
START LISTS:
PRIZE MONEY: $60,000 USD (equal for men & women)
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the events live through with timing and text updates, at triathlon.org/live and on twitter at @triathlonlive.
COURSE PROFILE:
Swim – 1500m – The athletes will begin the day with a 1.5km swim in the Maroochy River.
Bike – 40km – Athletes will bike seven laps that coast along the Mooloolaba waterfront, along Mooloolaba Esplanade and Alexandra Parade, over the challenging Alex Hill.
Run – 10km – Four-lap, 10-kilometre run along the waterfront, also along Mooloolaba Esplanade and Alex Hill.
STORIES TO WATCH FOR:
Elite Women
Despite a small start list, the women’s race is loaded with some of the strongest ladies on the ITU circuit, such as Andrea Hewitt (NZL), Anne Haug (GER) and Australia’s own Emma Moffatt and Emma Jackson just to name a few. Strong in all three disciplines with finishing power on the run, expect Hewitt to be a top contender in the sports-enthusiastic city. Haug’s strong sprint skills and boosted confidence could make her a top player in both Mooloolaba and in all ITU races this year. Like Haug, several more up and comers will toe the line in Mooloolaba, such as Aileen Reid (IRL), Maaike Caelers and Jodie Stimpson (GBR).
Elite Men
Laurent Vidal (FRA) will head back to Australia for the chance to earn his second consecutive Mooloolaba World Cup title. Last year, Vidal came out on top despite a three-way sprint for gold. This year, he’ll face the likes of Olympic silver medallist Javier Gomez (ESP), who displayed unexpected run sprint prowess at the Grand Final in Auckland for a second-place finish in the overall 2012 rankings. With Richard Varga (SVK) in the mix, the men’s field will likely be in for a quick swim. After scoring a pair of gold medals at both Oceania Championship races this year, Peter Kerr (AUS) will look to pick up his first ITU World Cup medal
PAST MOOLOOLABA RESULTS
WOMEN MEN
2012 Erin Densham (AUS) Laurent Vidal (FRA)
2011 Nicky Samuels (NZL) Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS)
2010 Vendula Frintova (CZE) Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS)
2009 Kirsten Sweetland (CAN) Courtney Atkinson (AUS)
2008 Emma Snowsill (AUS) Javier Gomez (ESP)
2007 Emma Snowsill (AUS) Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS)
2006 Annabel Luxford (AUS) Bevan Docherty (NZL)
2005 Loretta Harrop (AUS) Simon Thompson (AUS)
