TRIATHLON

2015 ITU World Cup circuit opens in Mooloolaba

By International Triathlon Union

The 2015 ITU World Cup circuit gets underway this weekend with seasoned host Mooloolaba welcoming athletes for the 13th time. The coastal city will again offer up a tough one-lap swim, four-lap bike, four-lap run sprint course on Saturday.

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ABOUT THE RACE: 
The tough course and incredible spectator support create an electric atmosphere that make Mooloolaba an athlete favourite race spot. Mooloolaba is a small beachside community on Australia's Sunshine Coast, an hour north of Brisbane. The World Cup 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
Saturday 14 March - 11:45am UTC/GMT +10 Click here for the time in your area
Elite Men
Saturday 14 March - 1:30pm UTC/GMT+10 Click here for the time in your area 

WEBSITES:
triathlon.org
ironman.com/triathlon

START LISTS:
Click here for the women's start list
Click here for the men's start list

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 - 750m - The athletes will begin the day with a mass beach start.
Bike - 20km - Athletes will bike four laps that coast along the Mooloolaba waterfront, along Mooloolaba Esplanade and Alexandra Parade, over the challenging Alex Hill.
Run - 5km - Four-lap run along the waterfront, also along Mooloolaba Esplanade.

STORIES TO WATCH FOR:
Elite Women
Packed with powerhouse potential, the women’s race will see several strong women start their 2015 season in Mooloolaba this weekend including Paula Findlay (CAN) and Ashleigh Gentle (AUS). After struggling with injuries, Findlay, who is the second most winningest female in WTS history, made a strong showing at the end of the 2014 season with top 5 finishes at the Cartagena and Cozumel World Cups. Like Findlay, Gentel is quick at the end of a sprint race and put in a solid year of training last season that should serve her well down the home stretch. Canadian Sarah-Anne Brault is dangerous in all three disciplines and enjoyed her most successful WTS season to date last year with two top 10 finishes last year. Lisa Perterer (AUT) also put together a string of improved performances last year to headline the Mooloolaba start list. The Austrian competed in Abu Dhabi last weekend, as did several athletes, so recovering in time for Saturday’s race will be key to a podium finish.
Elite Men
The speedy Crisanto Grajales (MEX), who has proved he can hammer down on the run when it counts, tops the men’s start list. Vicente Hernandez (ESP) joins Grajales in Australia as one to watch, but both men competed in Abu Dhabi just days ago. While Hernandez posted a solid showing in ninth, at the opening WTS race, it remains to be seen if he can recover in time for another performance on Saturday. France’s Pierre Le Corre will be one to keep in check, as he can close a race as fast as he can open it and will have the added advantage of competing on rested legs. Look for Americans Ben Kanute and Tommy Zaferes to head up the swim along with Le Corre and his countryman David Hauss (FRA). Hauss stared his season with a bang in Mooloolaba last year, as did Thomas Bishop (GBR), giving the pair an added air of confidence heading into the race. After stepping up to longer distances the last two years, Courtney Atkinson (AUS) will begin his campaign for a third Olympic berth in Mooloolaba, a race in which he won in 2009.

PAST MOOLOOLABA WORLD CUP RESULTS
WOMEN                                                      MEN  
2014     Gwen Jorgensen (USA)            Mario Mola (ESP)
2013      Anne Haug (GER)                     Javier Gomez (ESP)
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)