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Instead of reminissing about all the things that were great in 2011, we're going to look ahead to 2012 and put the spotlight on what we're looking forward to in the New Year.

Luke Bell vs. Clayton Fettell at the 2XU Falls Creek Triathlon. Last year Leon Griffin motored away from his rivals to win the inaugural edition of the 2XU Falls Creek Triathlon. Next year's FCT lineup includes two of Australia's best long course athletes in the form of Clayton Fettell and Luke Bell. In their last match-up Fettell got the wood on an exhuasted Bell at the Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie event, but we're expecting a much tighter contest on arguably Australia's toughest course as both will be using the race as a lead-in to Ironman Asia-Pacific Championships in March.

Urban 2.80.20. Long course triathlon welcome back to Geelong! If this year's Olympic-distance race was anything to go by, the inaugural Urban 2.80.20 is going to be amazing. Athletes will essentially do two laps of this year's OD course, which we found to be one of the best tracks in Australia, especially the challenging run course through the park on the Geelong foreshore. Snap up an entry while you can. This is a race not to be missed. The showdown between Leon Griffin and Pete Jacobs too is going to be a real cracker, as it will be the first hitout for both of these long course superstars in 2012. Griffin scored strong wins at Falls Creek, Cairns Half and Ironman 70.3 Shepparton while Jacobs scored his first podium finish at the Ironman World Championships in Kona and will be using the race as a lead-up to the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championships in Melbourne in March.

The battle for Olympic spots at Mooloolaba and Sydney. The discretionary policy has come under fire quite a bit lately, but TA at least got one thing right with their pre-nominations of Brad Kahlefeldt and Emma Moffatt. That leaves Chris McCormack, Courtney Atkinson, Brendan Sexton, James Seear and Ryan Fisher et al. to fight it out for the remaining two spots at the ITU World Cup in Mooloolaba and the first round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Sydney. The competition for spots in the women's team too will be interesting. Emma Jackson and Emma Snowsill are expected to fill the remaining two spots, but there is some serious talent snapping at their heels in the form of Felicity Abram, Annabel Luxford, Ashleigh Gentle and 2008 Olympian Erin Densham. Good performances at the Australian Sprint titles in Geelong and the Oceania Triathlon Championships in Devonport won't hurt their chances either, as the Triathlon Australia Elite Selection Committee (TAESC) will be keeping a keen eye on the domestic season before making any more selection announcements after Sydney WTS race.

Ironman Asia-Pacific Championships-Melbourne. We know there's going to be a swag of Australia's best men and women in attendance. But we're very much looking forward to which of the international stars make their way to Melbourne in March for the big 4000-points race. The points tag alone should lure a few big names Down Under, but if the race can attract an Andreas Raelert-type athlete, it will bring much-needed global attention to this new race. We're also looking forward to how age groupers take to the new course, in particular the ride on Eastlink motor way and the point-to-point marathon from T2 in Frankston to the finish arch in St Kilda. We think it's going to be a hard, but fair race come March. The other big talking point will be the event production itself. The WTC Australia team has been on a big roll since taking over the production of Ironman races from IMG in Australia. The quality and course in Busselton this year set the bar to a new level for Iron-distance racing in Australasia, and we're excited to see what the experienced team led by Shane Smith and Trent Taylor have lined up for Melbourne.

Challenge Cairns. With the announcement of the new swim location and modifications to the course, Challenge Cairns and the Cairns 2.80.20 are going to be seriously good races in 2012. Moving the start from Yorkey's Knob to Cairns was a smart move on behalf of the USM Events team, as it allows supporters to be more involved and allows athletes to get an extra bit of sleep before the race. And with an extended run back into Cairns from the Marlin Coast Recreational Centre meaning only two eight-kilometre laps once in town, it's going to be much more enjoyable marathon for the athletes, too. Challenge Cairns is really starting to get a reputation as the destination race for long course athletes, and with big prize money for the pros, expect a big field of the world's top athletes in attendance as well.

London Olympic Games. This one is a no-brainer as it only rolls around every four years, but for those athletes that dedicate themselves to the world of ITU racing, it's arguably the two hours that defines the time period since the last Olympics. Winning the ITU World Triathlon Series (formerly Championship Series) is an amazing achievement, but winning an Olympic gold medal sends you to another stratosphere that only a select few have managed to reach. Can anyone stop the Brownlees? Will Gomez produce the goods? Can Snowsill repeat? Will Whitfield win his third Olympic medal in his last Olympic Games? These and so many more questions will be answered in August – and we can't wait!