Triathlon: Tanner carries NZ hopes

Auckland's Debbie Tanner will be New Zealand's main hope for a medal at this weekend's opening round of the triathlon World Cup series at Mooloolaba on Australia's Sunshine Coast.

New Zealand will be without leading men Kris Gemmell and Bevan Docherty and women Andrea Hewitt and Kate McIlroy as they prepare for the opening World Championships series race in Sydney on April 11 and Samantha Warriner is racing a half Ironman in the United States.

Joining world number 18 Tanner, who is looking to improve on her second placing behind Hewitt at the recent New Zealand and Oceania Championships in Wellington, are Wanaka's Nicky Samuels and under-23 competitors Teresa Adam (Auckland) and Rebecca Kingsford (Tirau).