INSIDER THE KIWI CONTENDERS

Saxon Morgan

Christchurch, 22 Morgan was the standout at an otherwise topsyturvy World Triathlon Champs for NZL and backed up his 8th in the UAE capital with victory in the Canty Classic post Covid. Stalled by a bike crash en-route to 16th in Wānaka so expect a strong Taupō retort.

Kyle Smith

Taupo, 25

Janus Staufenberg

Dunedin, 23

The demands of post-grad medicine and the difficulty of getting elite starts post pandemic meant Staufenberg raced only twice offshore in 2022. His World Cup results were impressive – 11th in Huatulco and 14th in Miyazaka – and he’s coming off victory in the Lake Dunstan Olympic distance tri. Did well to place 9th after being another to be caught in the Wānaka bike crashes.

Tayler Reid

Gisborne, 26

With Hayden Wilde only jetting in for World Cup New Plymouth, #GizzyHard Reid will have hoped to have topped the podium in both Wānaka and Taupō to underscore his No.2 ranking among the Kiwi men. Third at the fomer ups the ante for Taupō where Reid will again draw on his Super League experience for revenge over Kyle Smith. The competition is timely.

Dylan Mccullough

Auckland, 22

McCullough edged Reid – 7th played 8th – at the Commonwealth Games to underline his potential but missed World Cups in Bergen and Valencia after breaking an elbow post Birmingham. The lack of race fitness showed in 28th and 26th placings in his comeback races at World Cup Miyazaki and the U23 Worlds in Abu Dhabi. Looking for a clean crack at 2023.

Now resigned to the reasons behind is “brutal” axing pre Tokyo, Smith is back for another tilt at his Olympic dream. Out-kicked Reid in Wānaka and will want a strong Taupō sendoff to his WTS bow alongside pal Hayden Wilde in Abu Dhabi. Will they be reunited in Paris? Time will tell. Smith has a lot of ranking-points ground to make up but rest assured, he’s the speedy Joker in the Paris pack.

Trent Thorpe

Cambridge , 26

Nearly lost to short course triathlon before a change of coach to two-time Olympian and 2018 Gold Coast Mixed Relay gold medallist Ryan Sissions convinced Thorpe the 70.3s can wait. The Cambridge-based Aucklander won the Super League-esque Surfbreaker on Dec. 27 but only 19th in Wānaka. Expect a response.

Wildcards

Lachlan Haycock won Tinman in Nov. and was 10th in Wānaka in a pleasing reset after a troubleplagued 2022. The Tauranga 22-year-old is aiming primarily for the U23 words, as is James Corbett The Cambridge-based Aucklander can run and is super motivated after his eye-opening 44th on WTS debut in Cagliari last Oct. Watch too for Sam Parry after the Palmy Nth teen ran to a shock 6th in Wānaka.