TRIATHLON

2016 ITU World Cup circuit opens in Mooloolaba

By International Triathlon Union (ITU)

Mooloolaba will again play host to the opening event of the 2016 ITU World Cup season this weekend. This year is the 14th time that the Sunshine Coast desintation has held an ITU event, but this year watch out for slightly updated swim and run courses in the sprint event. The swim is scheduled closer to the main Mooloolaba beach, just outside the “loo with a view”. The run course this year has been shortened to three laps of 1.66km, which will mean the athletes have a little more hill to climb, both changes which could have an impact on the eventual winners.

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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 12 March - 11:45am UTC/GMT +10 Click here for the time in your area
Elite Men
Saturday 12 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 for a one-lap ocean swim.
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 - The run course consists of three 1.66km laps along the ocean.
 
STORIES TO WATCH FOR:
Elite Women
Fresh from their success at the opening World Triathlon Series event in Abu Dhabi, Great Britain’s Jodie Stimpson and Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle will headline the women’s race on the Sunshine Coast. The Netherlands’ Rachel Klamer will wear the No.1 ranking in this weekend’s race, and she will be looking to rebound after a tough outing in Abu Dhabi. Australia’s Emma Moffatt will make her season debut at home, and she is a multiple-medallist in Mooloolaba.

Elite Men
Spain’s Mario Mola leads a strong European contingent in Australia, including his compatriot Vicente Hernandez, a Mooloolaba podium finisher in 2015, Portugal’s Joao Pereira, Azerbaijan’s Rostysla Pevtsov, Russia’s Alexander Brukyankov, Germany’s Franz Loeschke, Steffen Justus and Gregor Bucholz, and France’s David Hauss.

PAST MOOLOOLABA WORLD CUP RESULTS 
WOMEN                                                      MEN  
2015    Tamara Gomez Garrido (ESP)      David Hauss (FRA)
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)