Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell gave the thousands watching live and a nationwide television audience at home exactly the race they were hoping for when the two went toe to toe at the Contact Tri Series in Takapuna yesterday.
It was two-time Olympic medallist Docherty who won the day but only just as the great mates and even greater rivals sprinted to the finish chute in front of a huge crowd on a searing hot day, as both collapsed over the line in exhaustion.
Docherty was delighted with his effort on a flying three day visit back to New Zealand from his base in America and all the more happy to race from the front on a tight and technical course.
"To be honest I was happy to be in the front of this race and avoid some of what might have been going on behind us. A small group can stay away from dangers and on a course like this you can work just as effectively in small or large groups. I was happy to be out there with Kris to help push the pace, he certainly didn't make it easy on the run though. I thought he had it on the run, I thought he was looking good and playing with me. And in front of a big crowd and on a great day like this it was great to have a sprint finish with him."
Gemmell too enjoyed a great hit out, although he was hurting plenty on the run.
"That was a really hard race; even if Bevan thought I was good I was suffering the whole way don't you worry. I didn't have good legs on the bike; Bevan had better legs than I did today. I spent a bit of energy doing my share early on and if I hadn't we might have been caught at the start so I had to leave a bit out there.
"On the run started to feel alright, better and better but every time I tried to push he covered and I thought here we go again, another sprint. So I thought if ever you are going to try these things it is best in a hyped up situation like this in front of a big crowd and live on TV to the country."
Gemmell also had strong praise for Inglewood's Ed Rawles who rode with the two senior pros throughout the bike.
"People are saying we don't have enough young guys coming through but they are there, they are everywhere and Eddie was superb today. He showed that a young guy can have a good day when it all comes together but importantly he was prepared to put it on the line and certainly did his share of work, he didn't shirk his turn on the front at all and then took off in the first 500m of the run, he had a great day and showed a little about what he can do."
Ryan Sissons ran strongly after missing that lead bike group to claim third place ahead of Martin Van Barneveld with Sam Osborne running strongly into fourth.
In the women's race it was a repeat of last year with Great British triathlete Vicky Holland proving too strong for the best the Kiwis could muster on the day. Wanaka's Nicky Samuels certainly made the defending champion work for her victory though, going clear on the bike in a solo ride that bought Samuels over a minute heading on to the run leg, it was a margin that Holland thought might be enough for victory.
"If I'm honest I thought Nicky had enough, I had a problem on the bike today with cramp so couldn't do too much of my share, I thought we'll see how it goes on the run and when we halved the deficit in the first lap I thought maybe we can catch.
"I got off the bike and really wasn't sure how I would go, how I would run. I had been cramping down my left side but within 200 metres it started to ease off and I thought I would be alright and luckily it got better and better.
"This race and venue is fantastic, every time I come it is a great day, a great reception and a great race, I have to come back and look for the hat trick now, I will definitely be back."
Hewitt ran toe to toe with Holland throughout the run as both passed Samuels but the Christchurch triathletes had no speed at the finish at this early stage of the season.
"I knew Nicky would go on the bike but didn't know when and it turned out it was right at the start. I tried to chase and get the group to work but couldn't get much help so we were chasing the whole time. I felt good on the run but didn't have that extra speed with today being my first race of the season. It is a really nice race though and a good way to start the year."
Samuels like Holland thought she had done enough with a superb and gutsy bike ride.
"I thought a minute would be enough but had a few problems in the first kilometre on the run and that did it for the rest of the race. It was hard work definitely especially time trialling at the front, but I used the opportunity to go when the other girls were putting their shoes on so took my chance and went then, I just didn't have it on the run today."
The elite races concluded a fantastic day of racing with hundreds of beginner and age group athletes enjoying the same fully closed course around the Takapuna CBD in front of big crowds.
The Contact Tri Series now moves on to Wellington for the final round and the National Championships in mid March.
Contact Tri Series, Takapuna
500m swim, 16km bike, 4km run
Elite Men
1 Bevan Docherty Taupo (USA based) 43:57
2 Kris Gemmell Palmerston North 43:58
3 Ryan Sissons Auckland 44:40
4 Martin Van Barneveld Christchurch 45:15
5 Sam Osborne Dunedin 45:24
Elite Women
1 Vicky Holland Great Britain 49:07
2 Andrea Hewitt Christchurch 49:11
3 Nicky Samuels Wanaka 49:15
4 Rebecca Kingsford Tirau 50:17
5 Maddie Dillon Auckland 50:34
