Keane To Find More Speed

Triathlete Bryan Keane is looking for more speed at this weekend's International Triathlon Union, Mooloolaba World Cup.

The 34 year old started the season with a 3rd and a 4th place finish in two early season Continental Cups however was disappointed by his performance at the opening round of the top tier World Triathlon Series in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

Keane missed the lead pack out of the water making it a particularly tough day at the office in which he spent the entire race chasing. A solid run saw him pick off some athletes from the leading pack to finish 37th. "Hard lessons learnt" he commented after the race.

Saturday's Mooloolaba World Cup, taking place in the mid 20 degree heat of Australia's Sunshine Coast will again be raced over the 750 meter swim, 20 kilometre bike and 5 kilometre run of the sprint distance and sees no less than 75 elite men toe the line.

Cork man Bryan Keane goes into the race ranked number 12 but will be aiming for a top 10 finish or better. At the same race last year he was 16th but has fonder memories of 2013 where he finished just off the podium in 4th.

Joining him on the start line is another of Triathlon Ireland's Rio Olympic Games hopefuls in the form of 23 year old Ben Shaw. Shaw originally hails from just an hour's drive south of Mooloolaba, in Brisbane, Australia but secured his future racing for Ireland at the start of the 2014 season.

Shaw goes into the race ranked 22nd on the start line and opened his 2015 account with a solid 9th place finish at the Takapuna Continental Cup. An exceptional swimmer, expect to see Shaw animate the race early, looking for every opportunity to break away from the noted runners.

Central American and Caribbean Games Champion, Chrisanto Grajales who hails from Mexico will wear number one as the race favourite but there is no shortage of talent lined up behind looking to steal the limelight.