Triathlete Stuart Hayes is set for his first major race of the season at the Mooloolaba World Cup in Queensland as he builds towards next month’s World Series opener in Auckland.
The 33-year-old was one of three Brits selected for the men’s Olympic triathlon at London 2012 that saw brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee win gold and bronze respectively.
Hayes finished 37th and will race against Spaniard Javier Gomez, who took silver in between the Brownlee’s at London 2012, at the World Cup opener in Mooloolaba this weekend.
Hayes will take to the course, which covers a 1500m river swim, a longer than standard bike ride and a 10km run, on Saturday before turning his attentions to the World Series opener in New Zealand.
He is joined Down Under by fellow Brit Jodie Stimpson, who goes in the women’s race on Sunday and won the Devonport OTU Sprint Championships in Tasmania last month.
And, with many of her teammates in the Darren Smith international training group also starting the race in Queensland, she can’t wait to get going.
“Mooloolaba has one of the hardest bike courses on the World Cup circuit, followed by a difficult run which has a killer hill,” said Stimpson.
“A lot of the D-Squad will be making the trip to Mooloolaba and racing, so it will be a good squad race again, and I’m looking forward to tearing it up with the squad.”
© Sportsbeat 2013