Australia’s Emma Jeffcoat, who won her first World Cup title in Mooloolaba, is among the favourites in New Plymouth ©Getty Images

With less than two weeks until the Commonwealth Games, several hugely experienced athletes heading to Gold Coast 2018 will be taking a final opportunity to test their racing form tomorrow at the  International Triathlon Union World Cup in New Plymouth.

The third stop on the World Cup circuit in New Zealand - one level below the ITU World Triathlon Series - will be a sprint distance triathlon involving a 750 metres swim, a 20km cycle ride and a 5km run.

The event will be held at Ngamotu Beach and the surrounding scenic roads of Taranaki.

New Zealanders Andrea Hewitt and Nicole Van der Kay will get huge home backing in the women’s event tomorrow, where they will seek to halt the recent momentum of Kirsten Kasper, the American athlete who finished fourth in the opening World Triathlon Series in Abu Dhabi before winning silver at the last World Cup in Mooloolaba.

Australia’s Emma Jeffcoat, who won her first World Cup title in Mooloolaba, will also be a strong contender along with the Abu Dhabi bronze medallist Natalie van Coevorden.

Another triathlete with the Commonwealth Games in front of her is Australian representative Gillian Backhouse.

Tomorrow's race will also see another one of the world’s greatest triathletes perform, Hall of Fame inductee and Olympian Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal, who competed strongly in Mooloolaba.

Competition will get underway tomorrow in the men's and women's elite races at the ITU World Cup in New Plymouth ©Getty Images
Competition will get underway tomorrow in the men's and women's elite races at the ITU World Cup in New Plymouth ©Getty Images

In the men’s race, Australia’s Luke Willian is another athlete who will be looking to warm up for next month’s Commonwealth Games.

He will face New Zealand’s Sam Ward on his home ground.

With a powerful swim and bike combination, Ward will be looking for early domination.

“I am really excited to race in front of a home crowd and in front of family,” he said.

Ward produced a strong fourth place finish in the challenging Mooloolaba World Cup and is confident with his race form leading into tomorrow’s race.

 “The body is in good shape, and I will be out there to mix things up at the front of the race,” Ward added.

Matthew McElroy from the United States a swim and run specialist, who came away with bronze in Mooloolaba will be fixed on securing another World Cup podium place.

Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk is also in the frame, along with Australian sprint specialists Brandon Copeland and Daniel Coleman, who will prove threats in the men’s field and will set the pace from the start.

Canada’s Matthew Sharpe, renowned for his prevailing swim stroke, will have a race plan to lay it down early and make an impact on the field.