The focus will be on the elite men on Saturday in Beijing at the final round of the Dextro Energy ITU Triathlon World Championship Series with six men lining up in the silver fern.
While much of the attention is on leading New Zealander Bevan Docherty in the quest for a top 8 finish and a spot at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the likes of Ryan Sissons, James Elvery, Clark Ellice, Kris Gemmell and Martin Van Barneveld are also hoping to be in the mix.
Sissons has perhaps the best credentials in that group, currently second on the New Zealand list at 22nd in the world; 23 year old Sissons has one aim on Saturday.
"Preparation leading into Beijing has been great and I am really looking forward to the race this weekend. I know it's an Olympic qualification race so my goal is pretty simple, to qualify. However it's never as easy as it sounds and I need a top 8 performance to do this which is going to be a true test.
"The course here in Beijing looks great and I know it's a kind of course I like with a hilly bike course and run. It's going to be crucial to have a good swim and make the front group on the bike if you want to be in the game. Overall it's a good chance to race on a slightly tougher course and I'm sure there will be a few surprises."
New Plymouth's Clark Ellice also has Olympic aspirations, but is looking forward to the comforts of home post Beijing too.
"I have enjoyed a solid good few weeks here in Sete in the South of France to prepare for the heat in Beijing. The goal is to qualify for the Olympics and if not be the first two Kiwis across the line. There is a solid hill to be wary of on the bike leg and just the one lap on the swim, so it is crucial to stay in touch and have a good day in the water.
"The diet is all canned food and no salads in Beijing, so I must admit to looking forward to some pasta and pies back in New Zealand!"
James Elvery has struggled since Lausanne but is looking forward to the course.
"I've prepared really well for the race here in Beijing. I had a bad flu virus after Lausanne, but bounced back from that pretty well and got some good hard sessions in.
"I think the course here suits me well, with a non wetsuit 1 lap swim and a hard hilly bike. I'll be looking to be out near the front of the swim and hopefully being part of a group off the front early on the bike.
"I'm excited to be racing at my 3rd Elite Grand Final and another Olympic selection event. I look forward to the support we get from the NZ age group team every year which is unique to the Grand Final, and will give my absolute best out on the course in the NZ uniform."
Martin Van Barneveld's issue this year has been an inability to turn good training form into good race day results, something that has frustrated the former U23 World Champs medallist.
"I felt very tired 3 weeks ago after London as I think I had dug myself into a bit of a hole from training hard and backing up several races. So I was glad to have a couple of settled weeks at my German base in Darmstadt which feels as much like a home can be away from home.
"This year has been quite tough for me. I have had some solid races, and have run some pretty consistent times. When it has come time for me to step up for the bigger races it just has not worked. Training had always been indicating more but the performance never came. So that can be really hard to deal with as I always have questions and am wondering why.
"But this weekend I will be racing with that competitive spirit which lives in me, but at the same time I am going to enjoy the fact that I am doing what I love and racing at the highest level of my sport."
Kris Gemmell rounds out the Kiwi contingent having arrived from the United States where he raced in an event in Des Moines last weekend, finishing 6th in his final hit out before a race that could determine his chances of a return to a second Olympic Games.
Elite Men World Rankings
1. Alistair Brownlee GBR 3085
2. Jonathan Brownlee GBR 2965
3. Javier Gomez ESP 2858
4. Alexander Brukhankov RUS 2699
5. David Hauss FRA 2405
Plus NZers
18. Bevan Docherty NZL 1179
22. Ryan Sissons NZL 989
50. Clark Ellice NZL 532
61. James Elvery NZL 379
67. Martin Van Barneveld NZL 310
69. Kris Gemmell NZL 306
Elite Men – Saturday 10th 4.30pm
- Bevan Docherty (Taupo)
- Ryan Sissons (Auckland)
- Clark Ellice (New Plymouth)
- James Elvery (Auckland)
- Kris Gemmell (Palmerston North)
- Martin Van Barneveld (Wellington)
New Zealand will be represented in all elite divisions with the following athletes lining up:
(All times NZT)
Junior (U19) Men – Sunday 11th 8.15pm
- Aaron Barclay (Gore)
- Lachlan Davey (Wellington)
- Andrew Ranford (Auckland)
Junior (U19) Women – Saturday 10th 2.45pm
- Maddie Dillon (Auckland)
- Mikayla Nielsen (Hamilton)
- Laura Wood (Christchurch)
U23 Men – Friday 9th 4.30pm
- Tom Davison (Christchurch)
- Sam Osborne (Rotorua)
U23 Women – Saturday 10th 7.15pm
- Simmone Ackerman (Whangarei)
- Rebecca Kingsford (Tirau)
Elite Women – Sunday 5.30pm
- Andrea Hewitt (Christchurch)
- Nicky Samuels (Wanaka)
- Kate McIlroy (Wellington)
- Debbie Tanner (Auckland)
