Round Two ITU Triathlon World Cup - Samuels flys NZ flag

The picturesque Japanese island of Ishigaki welcomes triathlon back to its shores for the fourteenth time this weekend as the ITU Triathlon World Cup circuit descends on the longest standing World Cup venue for the second leg of the 2009 season.

Australia's Courtney Atkinson will be hoping to make it back to back World Cup victories having taken the top spot in Mooloolaba in March. Atkinson has a strong affinity with Ishigaki, having won the World Cup in 2005, 2006 and 2007. During the 2005 race he lost his wedding ring during the swim but has since dubbed the course to be "lucky" given the success he has experienced there.

Ivan Vasiliev may prove to be Atkinson's toughest competition. The Russian finished third at last year's race and enjoyed a successful 2008 which included a second place at the Madrid ITU Triathlon World Cup. Up and coming German, Gregor Buchholz, will fancy his chances for a first World Cup podium finish whilst Jarrod Shoemaker from the USA will be looking to kick start his 2009 with a good performance.

In the women's race, Olympic Games fifth place finisher, Juri Ide, will look to delight home crowds with victory whilst the experienced Kiyomi Niwata will be targeting a third visit to the Ishigaki podium having finished second and third in previous years. Reigning Asian triathlon champion, Ai Ueda, completes the trio of proven Japanese race winners.

International competition will come from Canadian Olympic duo Lauren Groves and Kathy Tremblay, and New Zealand's Nicky Samuels who started the year strongly with a fourth place finish at the opening World Cup race in Mooloolaba, Australia.

Melanie Anaheim from Switzerland and double former World Junior bronze medallist, Rebecca Robisch from Germany top the list of Europeans alongside Spanish veteran Ana Burgos.

Elite Men-Ones to Watch
Courtney Atkinson (AUS) - 2008 Olympian, 5-time World Cup winner
Jarrod Shoemaker (USA) - 2008 Olympian, 2005 Under23 World Champion, multiple world cup medallist
Gregor Buchholz (GER) - 2007 Under23 World Champion
Click here for men's start list

Elite Women-Ones to Watch
Juri Ide (JPN) - Fifth place at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Lauren Groves (CAN) - 2008 Olympian, 2007 Pan Am Games bronze medallist
Nicky Samuels (NZL) - 2006 Under23 World Championships bronze medallist
Kathy Tremblay (CAN) - 2008 Olympian, 2006 Pan American Champion, 2007 Canadian National Champion
Click here for women's start list

Event & Athlete details
Prize Money : USD $80,000

2008 Ishigaki ITU Triathlon World Cup winners:
Simon Whitfield (CAN) 01:51:12 Emma Snowsill (AUS) 02:03:10

The race will be standard Olympic distance: 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike, 10-kilometer run. Live timing will be available online at triathlon.org. Click here for more event information