Road to Beijing Olympics begins Down Under this Sunday

Mooloolaba, Australia (March 27, 2008) - The 2008 BG Triathlon World cup series gets underway this Sunday on Australia's scenic Sunshine Coast. More than 150 elite athletes from 38 countries will battle for the first world cup title of the year as they prepare for the Beijing Olympics this August.

Portugal's triathlon superstar Vanessa Fernandes bids to become the most decorated triathlete in ITU history when she opens her 2008 season in Mooloolaba. With 19 World Cup titles, Fernandes could break the all-time record held by Australian Emma Carney who will be at the event to witness whether her prestigious record will fall before her own eyes. The women's race is expected to be showdown between Fernandes and her chief rival Emma Snowsill. The three-time world champion trumped Fernandes last year in Mooloolaba but finished second to her at world championships and again at the Beijing test event.

Snowsill is part of a high-powered Aussie team that includes 2007 world number two Emma Moffatt, who's coming off big wins at the Gold Coast and Wellington, Erin Densham who ran down Fernandes last year for silver and Annabel Luxford, who won Mooloolaba in 2006. They have a lot on the line this weekend as Australian Olympic selectors will be keeping a close eye on the race.

A loaded international field will also contest the season opener including American Laura Bennett, bronze medalist at Hamburg and Beijing, Olympic bound Debbie Tanner of New Zealand as well as former European champions Michelle Dillon of Great Britain and German Anja Dittmer. The women's event also includes last year's Under23 world champion Lisa Norden of Sweden and newly crowned African champion Mari Rabie of South Africa. An interesting inside battle looms between Kiwis Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels, both vying for the third and final spot on the New Zealand Olympic team.

Athletes to Watch - Elite Women:
Vanessa Fernandes (POR) - 2007 world champion, seeking 20th career world cup (most of any ITU athlete in history)
Emma Snowsill (AUS) - 2007 Mooloolaba winner, pre-nominated to 2008 Australian Olympic team
Emma Moffatt (AUS) - finished 2007 #2 in the world, 2008 Oceania Champion
Laura Bennett (USA) - 4-time world championship medalist, nominated to 2008 U.S. Olympic team
Debbie Tanner (NZL) - finished 2007 #5 in the world, selected to 2008 New Zealand Olympic team
Anja Dittmer (GER) - 2000 & 2004 Olympian, nominated to 2008 German Olympic team
Michelle Dillon (GBR) - 2000 & 2004 Olympian, 2001 European champion
Click here for complete women's start list

Spain's Javier Gomez, who has finished the last two years as world number one, headlines a highly competitive men's field. He'll be eager to avenge his sprint loss to Australian Brad Kahlefeldt last year. Kahlefeldt will be part of a powerful home team that welcomes back triple world champion Peter Robertson and Greg Bennett to the world cup circuit. The Aussie men need a string of solid world cup performances to qualify a third man for the Olympics.

The stellar men's field includes Kiwis Bevan Docherty, Olympic silver medalist in Athens who has already pre-qualified for Beijing and Shane Reed, the newly crowned Oceania champ who secured his country a third Olympic spot. Reed will be looking to be first Kiwi across the line to make that spot his own.

A strong British contingent that includes three world champions from 2006 is also Down Under for the season opener. Last year, in just his second world cup elite appearance, the prodigious Alistair Brownlee broke through for a silver medal in Rhodes, Greece. The teenager will likely be racing in several world cup events with the hopes of earning a coveted spot on the British Olympic team.

Athletes to Watch - Elite Men:
Javier Gomez (ESP) - 2006 & 2007 overall world cup champion, nominated to 2008 Spanish Olympic team
Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) - 2007 Mooloolaba winner, pre-nominated to 2008 Australian Olympic team
Bevan Docherty (NZL) - 2004 Olympic silver medalist, selected to 2008 New Zealand Olympic team
Tim Don (GBR) - 2006 world champion
Greg Bennett (AUS) - 2004 Olympian
Peter Robertson (AUS) - 3-time world champion
Click here for complete men's start list

Valuable ITU Olympic qualifying points will be on the line along with a $100,000 USD prize purse. The race will be standard Olympic distance: 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10-kilometer run. Live coverage will be available online at triathlon.org. Click here for more event information

Start Times:
Elite Women - 11:05am on Sunday March 30 (Brisbane time; UTC/GMT +10)
Elite Men - 1:40pm on Sunday March 30 (Brisbane time; UTC/GMT +10)
Click here start times in your area