Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, Javier Gomez and Non Stanford among stars confirmed for Auckland

Top names heading to New Zealand for WTS season opener next month, including both of last year's world champions, along with the Brownlees and Jodie Stimpson

Published: March 7, 2014 at 2:27 pm

The Brownlee brothers, Non Stanford and Javier Gomez are just some of the big names set to race at this year's ITU World Triathlon Series opener in Auckland on 6 April, with 18 of the world’s top 20 women and 17 of the world’s top men signed up according to organisers.

This will be the first time that Alistair and Jonny Brownlee have both raced on the streets of downtown Auckland. They'll be lining up against seven of the current top 10 male athletes, including 2013 WTS men's champion Javier Gomez, Mario Mola (ESP) and Laurent Vidal (FRA).

The women’s line-up is no less impressive, with reigning women's world champion Non Stanford lining up against eight of the top 10 in the world rankings, including Anne Haug (GER), Jodie Stimpson (GBR), Gwen Jorgensen (USA) and Andrea Hewitt (NZL).

Last year's Auckland WTS race was won by Javier Gomez (1:55:51) and Anne Haug (2:08:20), with Matthew Sharp (1:56:51) the only British athlete in the top 20. Stuart Hayes, Jodie Stimpson and Katie Hewison did not finish.

(Image: Delly Carr/ITU)

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