The pre-race favourite set a cracking pace from the start with Canadian duo and Wollongong Wizards training partners Tyler Mislawchuk and Alexis Lapage finishing second and third respectively.

The event has always been a fun start to the year for Birtwhistle and the rest of Jamie Turner’s elite squad but the now three-time winner said this year’s race was perhaps the toughest of his three victories.

‘‘It was pretty hot from the word go,’’ Birtwhistle said.

‘‘The last couple of years there’s been a bit of tactics come into play and  a few mind games but today was kind of just full gas the whole way.

‘‘It was a tough one but a good one to win.

‘‘It’s a relaxed kind of event but we’re racers so when the race gets going we’re out there to beat each other.

‘‘Everyone’s here to have a bit of fun and not take it too seriously but we’re here to race and go hard.

‘‘It’s good to get another win and make it three in a row.

‘‘It’s definitely a good way to kickstart things for 2016.’’

Birtwhistle will now set his sights on qualifying for Rio with April’s ITU world series event on the Gold Coast looming as selection D-day.

‘‘Rio is the main goal for this year,’’ he said.

‘‘I have to try and get qualified for that within the next couple of months.

‘‘We’ve got the selection race on the Gold Coast in April so that will be the focus now.

‘‘We haven’t done a great deal of quality training yet so I’m really happy with where things are at the moment. 

“Hopefully it’s enough to get me to Rio later on.’’

Seemingly invincible U.S star Gwen Jorgensen collected women’s line honours for the fourth straight year as she begins her tilt at Rio gold.

Her Wollongong training partners Barbara Riveros from Chile and Canadian Amelie Kretz were second and third across the line.