Kris Gemmell is intent on an aggressive approach to this weekend's Dextro Energy World Championship Series Triathlon in Madrid, hoping to replicate the form that saw him finish second at the season opening World Cup in Mooloolaba in late March.
The Kiwi world number 4 is the leading Kiwi hope in the race in the absence of countryman and world number 1 Bevan Docherty who has chosen to sit this race out after his great win in Korea at the first World Series race earlier this month.
After that great race in Mooloolaba and a fourth place finish in Korea, Gemmell is in a positive frame of mind for a race that will feature the first appearance of last year's World Cup champion Javier Gomez (SPN), Beijing gold medalist Jan Frodeno (GER) and a host of others including silver medalist from Korea Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS).
"Training has been going well albeit this is always a funny time of the year as you try and set a foundation for the year and also find some racing speed," said Gemmell as he prepared to fly from the USA to Madrid.
"I have decided not to taper so much for these early races so I leave something in the tank at the end of the season when we head to the Gold Coast for the World Champs finale. But the flip side of that is you have to earn enough points in the meantime to put yourself in a position to be crowned world champion.
"Unlike Korea where I sat for a while I want to be the aggressor and see if I can go off the front to really test the others around me. It worked in Mooloolaba and I ran quickly off the bike, albeit Courtney Atkinson was too far up the road that day to catch."
Gemmell says the buzz of the new World Champs Series is already in evidence after just one event.
"The quality is higher for these races and we know the pressure to earn points and with it the chance to earn a world title. It was there in Korea and it will be even greater in Madrid, the atmosphere will match the quality of the field and the pressure to win so yeah, the series is fulfilling those objectives and lifting the level of the sport to another high."
Tony Dodds is the other Kiwi in the men's field, albeit the Wanaka triathlete has not had a great deal of time to prepare for such a big race.
"I only heard on Sunday night as I returned from a German Bundesliga race that I had the start in Madrid which has meant a mad rush of booking flights and accommodation.
"I view it as a positive though, with nothing to lose and everything to gain so I am looking forward to it. I'll carry some good form into the race especially on the run. But the weight I have dropped in training that has brought me that leg speed has cost me a little in the swim, so that is not great at the moment and I'm not sure how I might go but I'll give it everything."
As mentioned the field is stacked with quality, Docherty aside it is a step up from those that took to the start line in Korea. Javier Gomez will carry the local hopes as he returns from an ankle problem.
The reigning world champion says his run fitness has been hampered by the injury, but that he has sharpened his speed in the water and on the bike.
"Unfortunately I lost some important weeks of running because of the problem in my ankle," the 26-year-old says. "On the other hand my swim is going very well and I have improved my cycling a lot.
"I've finished some high-level cycling races here in Spain with the top riders, which I'm happy about.
"I'll be in good shape for the Madrid race, ready to fight for victory."
Also in the field is Beijing gold medalist Jan Frodeno, Aussies Kahlefeldt, Atkinson and former world champion Peter Robertson. The cream of European talent is lining up with Tim Don, Stuart Hayes, Alistair Brownlee, William Clarke (all GBR), Frenchman Laurent Vidal and a strong Russian contingent led by Korea bronze medalist Dmitry Polyansky.
Dextro Energy ITU World Champs Series
Madrid, Spain
Elite Men
Monday 1st June, 12.15am NZT
Elite Women
Sunday 31st May, 9.30pm NZT
