Kiwis Aim High In Yokohama

Kate McIlroy, Ryan Sissons and Martin van Barneveld will line up on Saturday at the latest round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Yokohama, race three in the eight race series to decide who will be crowned World Champion in 2013.

Fields are small but the quality high for both elite women and men in Yokohama and with the race moving to an earlier date in the season, conditions promise to be less brutal than previous years when high temperatures and humidity would often prove too big a hurdle for the competitors.

Wellington’s McIlroy goes into the race ranked 11th in the world, despite only racing once so far this year at the opening WTS event in Auckland where she finished 4th.

“Training has been going well since Auckland and I am feeling in good shape after deciding to miss the San Diego round and have this as a stop on the way to the European part of the campaign,” said McIlroy.

“My aim this year is to keep my ranking as high as I can and to achieve that with strong performances throughout the World Triathlon Series. It is about podiums now and racing at the front end of the field and I am looking for another solid race on Saturday.

“I would prefer the conditions to be a reasonably humid to be honest (the forecast is for a cool and possibly showery day). The course is not ideal for my style of racing on a largely dead flat bike and run, but that is the challenge on the WTS circuit, racing well in different conditions and on different courses and I am looking forward to it.”

Sissons is ranked 17 in the world after a less than ideal start to 2013. A cut foot saw the Aucklander withdraw from the Oceania and NZ Championships before the race started and then mechanical issues held him back in Auckland before a disappointing swim put paid to a strong result in San Diego.

“It is time to start my season to be honest after a number of events where I have put some good bits and pieces together but not an entire race,” said Sissons. “Training has been going well with some very specific sessions of late, including my first on the track this year.

“I was 13th here two years ago on a course that I don’t mind. It will be reasonably cool on a flat but quite a technical course, especially each time you ride through the transition area.”

Van Barneveld  is currently racing while outside of the Tri NZ HP programme and his goals are simple, to swim well and finish his run strongly, especially after a disappointing effort in the season opening race in Auckland.

“This is my first race in Yokohama, I have been to Ishigaki before but this is my first time on what you might call the mainland. In Auckland I was last out of the swim and out of the race from that point. Hopefully this weekend I have done the work to transform that swim and come out with a few other athletes. I have worked hard and if I do come out with a bunch, the bike is a matter of being sensible, conserving energy and finishing the second five kilometres of the run off strongly.”

The Kiwis will be up against some of the best in the sport at present with the women’s field highlighted by American Gwen Jorgensen, fresh off her stunning win at the latest round in San Diego. Maaike Caelers (NED) was third here last year and is well known to New Zealanders having spent much time training and racing in New Zealand, under the guidance of New Zealander John Hellemans.

The men’s race features current world number one Joao Silva (POR) as he looks to win for a third year running in Yokohama. He is up against two of the medallists from the London Olympics though with Javier Gomez (ESP) and Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) racing, Brownlee for the first time this season after overcoming an ankle injury.

For a full race preview and further information, click here

The race will be covered live on SKY SPORT, both races will be live on SKY SPORT 3, elite women at 11am NZT and the elite men at 2pm NZT, Saturday 11th May 2013