2012 ITU World Cup Season Starts in Mooloolaba

Mooloolaba, Australia (19 March 2012) - It's the sixth year in a row that Mooloolaba will open the ITU World Cup season, which makes it the second time that it's opened an Olympic year. Back in 2008, three-time ITU World Champion Emma Snowsill took out the Mooloolaba title and went on to win Gold at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, while two-time ITU World Champion Javier Gomez took the men's and then finished fourth in Beijing.

Andrea Hewitt (NZL) was unstoppable in the final few months of 2011 and will make her 2012 season debut in Mooloolaba, but with athletes like Emma Moffatt, Lisa Norden, Emma Snowsill, Nicola Spirig and Gwen Jorgensen on the start line, it's shaping as a brilliant opening women's race. In the men's, Brad Kahlefeldt will be aiming for his third consecutive win in Mooloolaba. Those trying to take it off him include Brendan Sexton, Courtney Atkinson, Laurent Vidal, David Hauss, Steffen Justus and William Clarke. Read the full preview here

About the race:
Mooloolaba is a small beachside community on Australia's Sunshine Coast, an hour north of Brisbane. The Olympic distance event is the centre piece of a three-day multisport festival, with 9000 competitors participating. The course starts with a swim in the Pacific Ocean, while the bike leg takes in the green hinterland, followed by a run that has ocean views the entire way. 

SCHEDULE:
Elite Men - Saturday, March 24 - 3:00pm (UTC/GMT + 10)   Click here for time in your area
Elite Women - Sunday, March 25 - 12:45pm (UTC/GMT + 10) Click here for time in your area

WEBSITES:
www.triathlon.org
www.usmevents.com.au