Many are predicting a Spanish quinella for the Port Taranaki ITU New Plymouth World Cup triathlon on Sunday even though five of the world's top 10 will be racing.
Current No 1 Javier Gomez will line up against the hottest triathlete at the moment in countryman and world No 2 Mario Mola. Mola won the opening ITU World Cup in Mooloolaba last weekend, running a stunning 13:55 for the 5km run.
Despite that great form on the back of an impressive 2013, Mola is quick to suggest Gomez is the man to beat as most athletes use it as buildup for the opening World Series event in Auckland in a fortnight. The race will be run over the sprint distance and won't be as demanding as Auckland's course, which features some hills.
Switzerland's Sven Riederer (ranked fifth), France's Laurent Vidal (seven) and Portugal's Joao Silva (nine) are also in the field.
"I am happy to be here and had a good performance in Mooloolaba,'' Mola said. ``I will try to do a similar race but, with Javi in the race, he is the man to beat. I consider this with his career, how he is going and how he has gone the last few years, when he is racing he is going to be on the top but it is good that he is here.''
Leading the New Zealand charge in the men's race is world No 15 Ryan Sissons, who begins his 2014 campaign at home.
"It is great to have New Plymouth back in action,'' he said. "It is a few years since the last big event here and it is a privilege to be back and another amazing field is going to make it even better.
"This is the first big race for me. I am looking for a decent result and have been training well. If I put myself in a good situation from the start, I am a good chance at top five and hopefully on the podium. That is the goal.
Jodie Stimpson (Great Britain) will go in as favourite in the elite women's race on Sunday. The world No 2 is primed for a strong start to the season after some solid training in the South Island and she will face competition from the likes of American world No 9 Sarah Groff and New Zealand's Andrea Hewitt, who finished fifth in Mooloolaba last weekend.
"The home support makes it easier,'' Hewitt said. ``I have the crowd behind me and I don't have to travel as far. The travel is something you have to deal with but, given it is the start of the season, all my training has been in New Zealand I haven't had to go far for this one, later in the season it can be difficult but this is great.''