World Triathlon

All eyes will be on Hobart this Sunday as Australias best elite women put on a final show for the national selectors following Loretta Harrops withdrawal from the 2006 Commonwealth Games team.

Go to the Hobart event page for full event details and start lists.

Event Director Kerry Stubbs said that whilst Hobart will not be used as an official selection race for Harrops Commonwealth Games spot the event represents the only real chance for a number of athletes in contention for the vacancy to stake their claim

National High Performance director Bill Davoren will be in Hobart and the national selectors will meet shortly after the race to finalise the team. Athens Olympian Rina Hill, Felicity Abrams, Pip Taylor, Mirinda Carfrae and Leesa White are five Australians who will now be looking at the SMF Hobart Triathlon through different eyes.

On the same day as Harrops withdrawal from the Australian Commonwealth Games team was being announced Craig Walton who placed 6th in Hobart last year reluctantly withdrew from Hobart due to illness. Stubbs believed Waltons withdrawal could well open the mens race right up.

When fully fit he goes hard of the front sometimes taking a couple of athletes with him and eliminating the chances of others. We could well have many contenders going into the final few kilometers of the mens race this Sunday Stubbs said.

The run will be fast and suit athletes like world champion Peter Robertson, last years Hobart winner Simon Thompson, and Commonwealth Games representatives Brad Kahlefeldt and Greg Bennett. The New Zealanders particularly Bevan Docherty will also look forward to a fast finish.

The 2006 SMF Hobart Oceania Cup Triathlon will be held on Sunday February 19. The professional womens event commences at 1.00 pm followed by the men at 3.00 pm. Full event details can be accessed from the DTA events website www.tasmanianevents.com.au