World champion Bevan Docherty puts his toe back in the international waters when the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Cup kicks off its 2005 season in Hawaii on Sunday (NZ time).
Taupo's Docherty leads a seven-strong Kiwi contingent to contest the first of the 14-round World Cup circuit that culminates
in New Plymouth in November.
The Athens silver medallist is joined by fellow Olympian Nathan Richmond (Auckland) and Taranaki-based Shane Reed, along with leading under-23 competitors Graham O'Grady (Hamilton), Terenzo Bozzone (North Harbour), Carmel Hanley and Debbie Tanner (both Auckland).
Docherty was sixth in his season opener in Australia and is not expecting a top finish this week as he builds up for the world championships in September.
'My first focus is the Madrid World Cup in June, then working through to the world championships in September and the World Cup in New Zealand," Docherty said.
"I was quite satisfied with the race in Australia. It gave me an idea of where my training was at and what I needed to work on.
"It will be much, much tougher this weekend. I am happy with my level of fitness but I have not done any sharpening or any speed work yet.
"It is a chance to race again at the top level. Some people can race really well fresh but I am the sort of athlete that needs races to get into the best shape."
The men's field in Hawaii includes seven of the world's top-10 ranked triathletes including Ukraine's Vlad Polikarpenko (second), Docherty (fourth, American Hunter Kemper (sixth), Frenchman Cedric Fleureton (seventh, Brit Tim Don (eighth, Australia's Oceania champion Bryce Quirk (ninth) and Reed (10th).
Also entered are top rated Australians -- Craig Alexander, New Zealand long distance champion Greg Bennett and Brad Kahlefelt, along with Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Simon Whitfield (Canada).
Under-23 athletes Tanner and Hanley will come up against strong competition in the women's field which includes a powerful Australian trio of world No 2 Annabel Luxford, 2003 world champion Emma Snowsill and Athens silver medallist Loretta Harrop.
- NZPA
