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Kate McIlroy - Source: Janos Schmidt / triathlon.org
World number 17 ranked triathlete Kate McIlroy has made one of the toughest calls of her hugely promising triathlon career and withdrawn from this Sunday's ITU World Cup race on the Auckland waterfront.
The 30-year-old had been touch and go to start the event after sustaining a deep and long cut beneath a toe when coming finishing the bike and heading off on the run at the Noosa Triathlon just over two weeks ago.
"After finishing off my season with a career high of 3rd in Yokohama, I continued to train specifically so that I could race the Auckland World Cup and perform well at home in front of a New Zealand crowd," said McIlroy.
"Part of my build up for Auckland was the Noosa triathlon at the end of October. I came 3rd but only did so after sustaining a deep cut to my toe coming out of transition two. It was that bad I came home and had to have it operated on by a plastic surgeon to repair the damage and in the hope of racing this weekend.
"But after having it re-assessed I have been advised not to race due to the risk of it splitting back open. Next year is a really important year and I need this to heal properly now so it does not jeopardise my build up to Sydney and then I hope the London Olympic Games.
"I am really disappointed as I have been looking forward to racing on home soil. I will definitely still be coming up to cheer all the New Zealand girls and guys on and to be a part of what promises to be a great day for the sport and the city, I just might be hobbling around a little!"
McIlroy's exit leaves Andrea Hewitt as the clear Kiwi favourite but the world number two will enjoy good support from world number 29 Nicky Samuels and a host of up and coming women, including 17 year old Mikayla Nielsen.
Nielsen is racing in her first ever standard distance event and while she won't figure amongst the leaders, will gain invaluable experience soon after winning the Junior Elite World Championship in Beijing in September.
The internationals are coming as well though, with a host of top challengers including a seven strong Japanese team led by world number 16 Ai Ueda, Kate Roberts from South Africa and a regular visitor to New Zealand in Vicky Holland (GBR) who took out the Takapuna Contact Tri Series race last year, defeating Hewitt in the process while Aussie Erin Densham will be another threat on the tough Auckland course.
The women's race starts at midday from The Cloud with the men racing from 2.45pm. The course sees some of the best triathletes in the world race in and around the Auckland waterfront CBD, with a tight and testing 8 lap bike course and 5 lap run course giving spectators great viewing throughout, from either Queens Wharf or out on the course.
