With Britain's reigning Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee and his younger brother Jonathan Brownlee absent, Gomez stole an early march on his rivals by claiming a comfortable win on the Auckland in a time of 1 hour 55min 51sec to maintain his unbeaten record in New Zealand with four wins over the past decade.

The London 2012 silver medallist is looking to claim back the world title he won in 2008 and 2010 with Alistair Brownlee taking it in 2009 and 2011 before Jonathan Brownlee won it last year.

It is likely the Brownlee brothers will mount a strong challenge in the remaining seven races of the 2013 ITU World Triathlon Series but Gomez said he is pleased to get off to an early win.

"It's pretty amazing to win here again, fourth race in New Zealand," said Gomez, who won the event last year when it was the Grand Final of the World Triathlon Series.

"It was a pretty good day.

"I had a good swim and was solid on the bike then my team-mate Mario Mola, made me run really fast and so happy for him making his first podium."

Mola took second, 12 seconds back from his compatriot, while Portugal's Joao Silva claimed third.

In the women's event, Haug started her season exactly where she left off in 2012 with another brilliant win in Auckland.


The German is targeting the world title after finishing second overall in the 2012 ITU World Triathlon Series behind Sweden's Lisa Norden and, with her big rival absent in Auckland, she produced a superb display.

Haug was dominant in the final stages as she took victory in 2:08:20 with a sprint at the end to finish three seconds ahead of Maaike Caelers of the Netherlands.

Australia's Felicity Abram took bronze.

"That was amazing," said Haug.

"I mean it was so fantastic race for me and was a win I didn't expect that everything went perfect for me."

"I gave everything, so it was enough for a win, so I'm very happy.

"I like the hilly course here especially, you can't relax on the downhill part because it's so technical around sharp corners and we are all concentrated and no one can relax and you can't hide you have to put your cards on the table.

"Everyone has to work and I really like a hard hill I don't think they hurt my legs so much so I'm' fresh for the run."

The 2013 Series will now head to San Diego on April 19 and 20 before visiting Yokohama on May 11 and 12 and Madrid on June 1 and 2.

It will then go to both Kitzbühel on July 6 and Hamburg on July 20 and 21 before visiting Stockholm on August 24 and 25 and then finally the 2012 Olympic Course in Hyde Park in London on September 15 for the Grand Final where the male and female world champions will be crowned.

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