A world class field of triathletes will converge on Port Douglas this weekend to kick off the 2012 Cairns Airport Adventure on Sunday 27 May. 

The Coral Coast Triathlon is the first event of the 10-day adventure festival, and for the first time in Coral Coast’s 31 year history the event will be headlined by the Olympic distance 5150 triathlon.

However, two-time Ironman Champion Chris McCormack will not be joining the elite men’s field for the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle, and 10km run.

Pete Jacobs had an outstanding 2011 season storming home with the quickest run split to finish second at the Ironman World Championship in Kona last year and took out the Australian Ironman title.

“I’m really pumped to get back to Cairns to race this year – last year I was out injured, although found a bit of satisfaction in winning the 3km Reef swim, so I have that title to defend also.

Get sports news first on The Newsport Sport page.

“I haven’t done and Olympic distance race for a while so will be good to test the speed out ahead of next weekend’s Ironman 70.3 race,” said Jacobs.

Michelle Wu will enter Sunday’s race the outstanding favourite and will be hard to beat given her recent results. The Canberra based athlete recently placed second at the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Singapore and in 2011 took out the Ironman 70.3 Yeppoon and the Australian Long Course Championships.

Wu will also be using the event as a warm up to the URBAN Hotel Group Ironman 70.3 Cairns.

The spectacular 5150 course will start with a 1500m swim in the warm waters off Four Mile Beach, followed by a 40km cycle that takes in the streets of Port Douglas, before heading back to the beach for a multi lap 10km run.  There is no doubt the hotly contested field will put on quite a show for the people of Port Douglas.

However, it’s not all about the elite athletes.  Once again the Coral Coast Triathlon will see some of its ‘Legends’ take to the course along with first-timers and everyone in between.

Gary Alston will be notching up his 23rd Coral Coast and will be racing extra hard for good friend Neil Parker who, after competing in his 24th event last year will be cheering from the sidelines in 2012.

The Coral Coast Triathlon is a tradition in Tropical North Queensland and in 2011 joined the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival. The event will start and finish in Port Douglas with a course featuring Four Mile Beach. 

5150 (Olympic), Sprint and Enticer distance options will be available for both individuals and teams.

The weekend’s festivities also include the RRR Mountain Bike Challenge and the Hekili Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge, plus plenty of entertainment including ‘Chris Ah Gee & The Montgomery Brothers’ performing live from 10am at the Port Douglas Surf Life Saving Club.

Event: Coral Coast 5150 Triathlon
Date:  Sunday 27 May 2012
Where: Port Douglas (start at Four Mile Beach)
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 – Check-in, Bike racking & Late Entries, 7:30am – Event Start
Distances:
Enticer Triathlon – 300m / 10km / 2.5km
Sprint Triathlon – 750m / 20km cycle / 5km
5150 (Olympic) – 1500m / 40km / 10km

Win big in the region's Best Photo Competition.