Multisport: Carter ready for sound of the starting gun again

Bevan Docherty go head to head with Hamish Carter on Sunday.

Olympic gold medallist Hamish Carter may give the appearance of being superhuman, but his goals in his first World Cup event since Athens are humble.

He makes his season debut in the ITU Triathlon World Cup in Mooloolaba on Sunday, and his goal is to get through the race.

"You need to be there or thereabouts ... but you certainly don't need to set the world on fire," he said.

"It is just a starting point and gives you things to work on for the rest of the year.

Carter has pinpointed the Life Time Fitness Triathlon in America in July and the world championships in September as his two major events of the year and sees Sunday's race as a stepping stone towards that.

Carter conceded it had been a hard slog back from his lengthy break following the Olympics.

"The first couple of months were pretty hard because having a long time off isn't good - you sort of come back to training and feel like death. I have overcome all that and the last month and a half has been really good."

He will be joined by five other Kiwis on the start line on Sunday, including Games silver medallist and world champion Bevan Docherty, who finished 23rd in the opening round of the ITU World Cup in Hawaii two weeks ago.

It is the first time the dynamic duo have clashed since that unforgettable day in Athens last year.

Carter was looking forward to racing him again, but pointed out that the Olympics were now in the past and not something the pair dwell on or even discuss.

"When the gun goes, past reputations don't count for much. Guys are looking to take you on on all fronts and that is how I like it.

"The Olympics is finished now and until I am racing well again I am just like anyone else. I want to go out there and prove myself again."

Although both Carter and Docherty are treating Sunday's race as an early season sharpener, they will find the hills on the eight-lap, 40km cycle will suit their penchant for strength-based courses.

"I love the course, it is one of the best races on the ITU circuit, especially the beach start and challenging hills on the bike and run course. It is a course that has the ingredients for a real triathlon race where the best athlete on the day will win," Carter said.

The field is not full of big names, but Carter said there were many Australians who would be on top of their game and looking to win a big race at home.

"Racing in Australia is always incredibly tough. Even if I was in top shape it would be a hard race, that fact that it is my first race it is very much jumping in the deep end. But you have got to start somewhere."

Carter will take a week off after Sunday. He will then head overseas to compete in a variety of events and to Canada to train with 2000 Games gold medallist Simon Whitfield.

World Cup lineup

New Zealanders competing in Mooloolaba: Sam Warriner (Northland), Evelyn Williamson (Kapiti Coast), Carmel Hanly (Auckland), Debbie Tanner (Auckland), Shanelle Barrett (Taupo) and Nicky Samuels (Dunedin), Hamish Carter (Auckland), Bevan Docherty (Auckland), Clark Ellice (New Plymouth), Luke Hoetjes (Christchurch), Ben Pulham (Auckland) and Sam Mallard (Wellington).