Gemmell hope to replicate Mooloolaba form

New Zealand triathlete Kris Gemmell is taking an aggressive approach to this weekend's world championship series event in Madrid, hoping to replicate the form that saw him finish second at a World Cup round in Mooloolaba in late March.

Gemmell, ranked 14 in the world, is the leading New Zealand hope in the race in the absence of compatriot and world No 1, Bevan Docherty, who has opted to sit this race out after his win in Korea at the first world series race earlier this month.

Tony Dodds is the other New Zealander in the men's field.

After a fourth placing in Korea, Gemmell is in a positive frame of mind for a race that will feature the first appearance of last year's World Cup champion Javier Gomez of Apain, Olympic gold medallist Jan Frodeno of Germany and Australian Brad Kahlefeldt.

"Unlike Korea, where I sat for a while, I want to be the aggressor and see if I can go off the front to really test the others around me.

"Training has been going well, though this is always a funny time of the year as you try and set a foundation for the year and also find some racing speed," said Gemmell as he prepared to fly from the United States to Madrid.

"I have decided not to taper so much for these early races so I leave something in the tank at the end of the season when we head to the Gold Coast for the world champs finale.

"But the flip side of that is you have to earn enough points in the meantime to put yourself in a position to be crowned world champion."