In-form Australian triathlete Luke Bell will add some Trans-Tasman rivalry to Saturday's Bonita Ironman New Zealand race in Taupo.
Melbourne's Bell will not shy away from the fight when he lines up to take on five-time Ironman New Zealand champion Cameron Brown and a strong field of Europeansfor the 23rd edition of Ironman's oldest qualifying race.
The 27-year-old had an outstanding season in 2006 with six wins over the half ironman distance in Australia and the US, second at Ironman Brazil and seventh placing at the Ironman World championship in Hawaii, one spot ahead of Brown.
The Ironman New Zealand has always been on Bell's agenda and he reckons the incentive of taking on Brown in his home patch is an added bonus.
"Every year I have thought about going to New Zealand but it is a bit earlier than the traditional Forster (Ironman Australia) and you have to get your training in a bit earlier," he said.
"Cam Brown knows the race so going over there to race Brownie is like racing Macca (five-time Ironman Australian winner Chris McCormack) at Forster. You know he has that inside knowledge and he knows the race inside out and back to front. But you go over there planning the race you want to have and forget about that at the end of the day."
Bell is also his rivals will pose a serious threat in Taupo.
With Denmark's ITU World Champion Torbjorn Sindballe and last year's champion, Ain-Alar Juhanson of Estonia, making the trip to Taupo, Bell knows there is much more than Brown to be wary of.
"The bike is Torbjorn's (ITU World Champion Torbjorn Sindballe) strength so you know he is going to push the pace which in turn will affect our races as well. We are not going to let him get off the bike with a 15-minute lead.
"Ain (defending champion Ain-Alar Juhanson) is also coming back so you have to throw him into the mix. If the pace is too slow you will have him coming from behind as well."
More than 1000 competitors will line up for the 23rd Bonita Ironman New Zealand which starts at 7am on Saturday. The winner of the 3.8km swim 180km bike and 42km marathon run event is expected by 3.30pm with a midnight cutoff.
