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NZ Triathlete Kris Gemmell -
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New Zealand triathlete Kris Gemmell is well aware he will be a marked man during the Contact Tri-Series Sprint Triathlon in Takapuna on Saturday.
After the late injury enforced withdrawal of world number two Bevan Docherty on Friday morning, the 31-year-old Gemmell knows the focus shifts squarely onto his shoulders.
"Now the target moves from me and him [Docherty] having to look at each other to a lot of other guys looking at me and me having to take control and ownership over the race."
The race, encompassing a 500m swim, 16km bike ride and 4.65km run has attracted an international class field with seasoned campaigners from France, Sweden, Australia and South Africa making the journey down under.
It is Gemmell's first competitive outing of 2009 and he is taking an aggressive approach.
"I'm going to try and stamp my mark on the race as early as I can. I'll keep the race as honest as possible and if it starts getting a bit slow then I will attack. I've got nothing to hide around here."
The tight street circuit and sprint format should serve up an even contest, though the world # 4 Gemmell feels there is still room to dominate.
"You can force the issue, it doesn't matter where the pace is, if the pace is on someone is going to suffer because they can't keep up."
Keeping up with the leaders will be made even harder with the expected inclement weather conditions in Auckland on Saturday, and the Palmerton North-born Gemmell sounds like he will relish the challenge.
"With the rain there is going to be a bit of oil of on the roads. Bike handling skills will come into it and if you can't handle your bike there are going to be thrills and spills."
Gemmell's main opposition will come from French world number eleven Laurent Vidal, while the women's field is highlighted by the presence of New Zealanders Sam Warriner (world #1) Debbie Tanner (world #7) and Andrea Hewitt (world # 8) and Swedish rising star Lisa Norden (world #5).
Catch full, live coverage of the sprint triathlon on TV One from 4pm on Saturday. Unable to get to a television? The race will also be streamed live on TVNZ.co.nz
