New Plymouth Welcomes Top-Notch ITU Field

After a blazing start to the ITU triathlon season last weekend, World Cup action continues with a second sprint race in New Plymouth, New Zealand. The event marks the return of the World Cup circuit to the Taranaki town for the first time since 2008, and is lined with triathlon heavyweights looking to test their fitness early in the year.

The men’s race will see the return of the Spanish inquisition with the dynamic duo of Javier Gomez and Mario Mola gearing up. This is the first ITU race of the season for World Champion Gomez, who won the World Cup race when it was last held in 2008. Meanwhile, Mola is hot off a win thanks to a speedy 13:55 run split last weekend in Mooloolaba.

After finishing the 2013 season as the second-ranked woman in the World Triathlon Series, Jodie Stimpson (GBR) will begin her season in New Plymouth as the headliner of the women’s start list. The Brit had a massive breakout last year, indicating she is one of the top names to watch this year.

Like Stimpson, Sarah Groff will get her season underway in New Plymouth. The American dabbled in various races last year, but with Olympic qualification beginning this season and the US women’s talent pool deepening, Groff looks primed to return to full competition.

Read more: Triathlon.org