Hewitt Eagerly Anticipates Port Taranaki ITU World Cup Race
New Zealand’s leading triathlete Andrea Hewitt has been somewhat under the radar so far this summer, preferring training over racing as she prepares for her 2014 season, one that clearly has Glasgow tagged as her pinnacle event.
Hewitt has already met the nomination criteria for the New Zealand team for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and has not raced yet this summer. That though is about to change in the next two weeks as the world number 5 ranked triathlete competes first in Mooloolaba at the ITU World Cup this Saturday, and then in New Plymouth at the Port Taranaki ITU World Cup Sprint on March 23rd.
Hewitt took a peek ahead to the New Plymouth event as she prepared to depart for Australia and her first race for 2014 this weekend.
“I am really looking forward to racing in New Plymouth at the Port Taranaki World Cup race. I have raced there three times previously and I expect another great event. While the bike will be tough, the run is pretty flat this year so should make for some good racing and preparation for Auckland two weeks later. Just having this event here in New Zealand will be great though, it is nice racing at home, and obviously makes things easier without the travelling at this early stage of the season.”
Hewitt expects racing to be fierce at this time of the year as competitors come off solid training blocks ahead of the 2014 season.
“All events this year will have strong fields though and New Plymouth is no different. I expect this will be a tough and competitive race, one that will set the tone for the entire season. Everyone will be coming off a summer of hard training so will be on from the start I am sure.
“The nature of the course with the sea swim, tough bike and relatively flat run along with those racing should make for an interesting race. The British team is racing and they are strong swimmers so the dynamics of the race should be a little different to a straight running race for the podium.”
Hewitt began her training for this season in France and a visit to the Canary Islands with the French national team (her coach and partner is world number 7 Laurent Vidal) before returning home in late December.
“We had six good weeks at home and then I have spent the past three and a half weeks at Snow Farm (Wanaka), it has all gone really well and I am ready to race now. These sprint World Cup races will be good preparation, and I can go into Auckland looking at it as an ITU World Series race and focus on my performance rather than a selection process.
“Training has been very good but I will see exactly where I am at when racing starts this weekend and in New Plymouth. July (Glasgow) is the big goal but training is going well, everything is good and I am looking forward to racing.”
As predicted, Hewitt will certainly be in a competitive race with a line up of the best triathletes in the world coming to challenge her and the other Kiwi’s in New Plymouth.
The start list in the women’s elite race includes a strong New Zealand team and an impressive international field featuring: Sarah Groff (USA, 9); Maaike Caelers (Netherlands, world number 10);Emma Jackson (AUS, 11); Alice Betto (ITA, 12); Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI, 21); and a host of other top twenty athletes including a strong contingent from the world leading British team featuring former World Champion Helen Jenkins.
Age group racing on the Sunday morning will cater for everyone from beginners to experts, all over the short sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) with a relay option where competitors can do one of the disciplines before passing on to their team mate to complete the next leg of the race.
Port Taranaki New Plymouth ITU World Cup Triathlon, New Plymouth
Sunday March 23rd
7.30am Corporate and Age Group racing starts
Midday Elite Women, ITU World Cup
2.30pm Elite Men, ITU World Cup
Entries are open at www.itunewplymouthtriathlon.co.nz