Triathlon: Home's where the start is for our top athletes

Craig Waugh. Photo / Supplied

Dreaded 4am race day starts will be avoided by New Zealand's triathletes at the London Olympics.

Triathlon New Zealand has executed plans, with the Prime Minister's Office, police and Internal Affairs, to move the athletes' accommodation closer to the heart of the event in Hyde Park. They have also employed a nutritionist who works with High Performance Sport New Zealand to monitor meals. New Zealand's six athletes - Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Andrea Hewitt, Kate McIlroy, Nicky Samuels and Ryan Sissons - will initially move into the Olympic village in London's east. They will transfer to their new accommodation three days out from the women's race starting at 9am on August 4. The men's race starts at 11.30am on August 7.

Triathlon New Zealand chief executive Craig Waugh says they have completed a thorough reconnaissance.

"I've been impressed with the level of detail researched by the government departments. Safety was of importance but not at the expense of compromising our preparation. They didn't dictate what we should do. We initiated this because we are conscious of what our athletes need and are used to, days out from an event.

"They will go to eat at a separate location where the meals will be cooked specially.

"We needed dispensation because of the timing of the events. All I want is the best preparation for the team so they can do their best. It means they won't have to be up at 4am."

TNZ national coach Greg Fraine says a similar strategy worked at Athens and Beijing, where New Zealand secured three medals.

"The athletes are professionals who follow the ITU [International Triathlon Union] circuit all year. They always live close to each other and we don't want to change the type of build-up they have in preparation for other events.

"The Olympics add pressure. We can manage that best by keeping the environment as normal as possible.

"Our plans for security and food have been tested independently for risks. Travel to the event the morning of a race is another stress we'll avoid by staying close to the course. It will be beneficial to performance.

"Post-race, all athletes will move back into the village to share the Olympic experience with the New Zealand team."

Most of the New Zealanders have just completed their final block of altitude training at the French village of Font Romeu in the eastern Pyrenees, near the Spanish border.