Australia's Peter Robertson celebrates another win.
Wet-weather training has been placed on the agenda for Triathlon stars heading to Melbourne, as officials prepare for the city’s famously unpredictable weather.
While organisers remain confident of clear skies above the St Kilda Foreshore course, Triathlon Australia is urging their six-member team to get as much wet-weather training as possible ahead of the 18 March race.
A heavy downpour would significantly change the Commonwealth Games course into one of the most challenging bike legs in Triathlon competition, as rain puts an extra spin on the tight turns and covered tram tracks which dot the course.
World champion Emma Snowsill said a wet 40km bike leg, coupled with a continued downpour during the run leg, would be an extra challenge.
“You always want to be prepared for anything, have every base covered,'' she said.
Peter Robertson said his outing in last week’s Cycling criterium on a wet course showed him how much difference rain could make.
“I haven't raced a Triathlon in the rain for 18 months and it's a different way of racing,'' he said.
Heavy rain and gale force winds caused the postponement of the Gold Coast Triathlon last weekend, which Robertson and Snowsill had planned to compete in.
Snowsill said she will still go ahead with the rescheduled race, held in honour of Olympic silver medallist Loretta Harrop’s brother Luke, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident while training on the Gold Coast in 2001.
But Robertson has opted not to race just six days before the Commonwealth Games competition, joining team mates Simon Thompson, Brad Kahlefeldt, Annabel Luxford and Felicity Abram in final preparations ahead of their arrival in Melbourne.
The Commonwealth Games Triathlon will be held at the home of the Melbourne Triathlon competition, the St Kilda foreshore, on 18 March.
Triathlon is free and non ticketed.