Triathlon World Champion Takes on ITU World Series in Auckland

Known as the Tiger Woods of ITU racing, World Champion and 2012 Olympic London Silver medalist Javier Gomez of Spain is taking on the ITU (International Triathlon Union) grand final in Auckland on October 20-21st.

Gomez who is sponsored by ITU sponsor Suunto has taken the ITU circuit by storm ever since he burst on to the scene in 2003, despite being told he could never race again after he was diagnosed with a heart condition during his first year of racing.
For the fourth year running, Suunto will be the official partner of the ITU World Triathlon Series, which allows the world’s top athletes to compete head-to-head with seven world-class events, finishing with a grand final in Auckland.

Famous for his impressive running speed and endurance during circuits, Gomez has spent the winter preparing for the series using the Suunto Ambit GPS watch, foot PODs and Bike PODs.

The Suunto Ambit GPS allows Gomez to track the details of unfamiliar New Zealand circuits between cycling and running during his racing or training. Gomez is able to download routes online or input his own waypoints from the comfort of his computer. While he is racing he can see his route in real time, including their start point, position and more importantly, the route ahead.

“Suunto is definitely my best training partner! The GPS watch and bike functions - the bike accessories in particular - are very important in my daily training,” Gomez says. “They let me know how my form is at the moment and how my performance is going, comparing all the info that I get with former training sessions.” he says.

The final ITU field circuit for the elites won’t be confirmed until closer to race day, but already the field is shaping up as the best ever in New Zealand, on a downtown Auckland course that has the potential to test the best and allow spectators perfect viewing of the swim alongside Queens Wharf, the multi-lap bike in and around the CBD and the multi-lap run up and down Queen Street.

The morning before the best in the world strut their stuff in the ITU race, the course is open to anyone game enough to test themselves on the course, which involves a 300km swim, 5km bike, and 3km run, all at killer paces.