TRI SERIES
* Takapuna, tomorrow
* Elite women 3.55pm, elite men 4.55pm
There are no Olympic medals at stake nor is it close to the standard Olympic distance but tomorrow's Tri Series sprint distance triathlon in Takapuna has an international flavour spearheaded by New Zealand's best.
Kris Gemmell, 32, is back to defend his Contact Tri Series title but is guarded about
his chances with the race, billed as "The Street Fight In Takapuna" coming midway through his heavy off-season training regime.
But with the race over a 500m swim, 16km cycle leg and 4.2km run - down on the standard Olympic distances of 1500m, 40km and 10km - Gemmell is not too concerned.
"The lack of taper and the fact this event is so early in the season is to a degree overcome by the short nature of it," said Gemmell, who ended 2009 ranked eighth in the world. "Then there is the excitement generated by the closeness of the crowd and the noise that generates.
"It is about as close as you can get to competing in a stadium."
The swim is around a rectangular one-lap course from Takapuna Beach. Then follows the 10-laps (1.6km each) cycle leg based on Hurstmere Rd/The Strand followed by the 2.5-lap run course, again based on Hurstmere Rd.
Gemmell expects he will pitched into another battle with great rival Bevan Docherty, also 32, who returned from his Santa Cruz training base in the US on Wednesday to contest a race from which he was a late withdrawal last year. "I'm really excited about this race. I haven't raced it before," said double Olympic medallist Docherty. "The tight course seems hard and fast.
"Training has been going really well although the Santa Cruz winter has been a little cool and is nothing like a New Zealand winter."
The 2006 New Zealand Olympians, who have rarely clashed on home soil, will not have it to themselves.
World No 6 Frenchman Laurent Vidal, pipped by Gemmell in a frantic finish last year, is back with his sights set on going one better.
Ryan Sissons, third a year ago, is also back and seen as a threat as are Clark Ellice, James Elvery and Ben Pattle.
The women's field is headed by world No 3 and New Zealand No 1 Andrea Hewitt.
Kate Roberts (South Africa) heads the international challenge but she will be chased by New Zealand's next best - Debbie Tanner, Kate McIlroy and Sam Warriner.
The short, technical course is seen as a leveller.
Triathlon NZ chief executive Dave Beeche says the field for the season-opening race will rarely be matched anywhere in the world this year.
"The quality at the sharp end of both fields is stunning," said Beeche. "Bevan and Kris are great mates but intense rivals. While they are racing in their off-season, they will be pumped for this, so too will be Laurent Vidal, who is coming off his best-ever season."
As an added bonus on a day in which there will be seven lead-up races, over varying distances, over a course in which there will be a full road closure, the elite races will be televised live on free-to-air television.