Gemmell And Docherty See Hopes Fade In Crash-Riddled Austrian World Championship Triathlon

Young British star Alistair Brownlee won his third ITU Dextro Energy World Championship Series triathlon at Kitzbuhel in Austria today and in the process moved to the top of the world rankings while the Kiwis struggled in wet and cool conditions.

Kris Gemmell would prove to be the best in 9th, a result he ‘toughed out’ despite a crash and suffering in the cold while Bevan Docherty also took a heavy fall late in the bike leg.

“I crashed on the second lap when about 6 or 7 of us went down,” said Gemmell. “It was good it happened so early as we all worked to get back on inside one lap. I’ve got a bloody sore collar bone, but that isn’t the reason for finishing 9th, I just couldn’t get going. I’ve never been colder in a race, I just couldn’t get warm.

“I struggled to get my shoes on and when I did I couldn’t feel my feet. Despite that I think I have still run the 3rd or 4th fastest run time. Today was a classic case of those who enjoy the cold racing well, I’m afraid that isn’t me.”

It was to prove a frustrating race for the Kiwis all round on a cold and wet day that didn’t favour the smaller framed athletes. The swim was largely uneventful with a lead group of about a dozen emerging with a 30 second gap early on the bike with the Kiwis all in the chase group.

However the technical nature of the course and light rain slowed the lead group, allowing the entire field to form one large bunch on lap two of eight, with Gemmell, Docherty, Clark Ellice and Dylan McNeice in touch with the leaders.

The conditions quickly proved treacherous with a number of crashes on the tight and undulating course, including the one involving Gemmell. This allowed a group of three to break clear, with Sven Reiderer (SUI), Paul Tichelaar (CAN) and Bruno Pais (POR) quickly opening up a 30 second lead on a big chase group. Only Reiderer was to be caught, with Maik Petzold joining the breakaway late in the 40km.

All of the hard work for Docherty was however undone when he crashed heavily on the last lap, while in sight of the transition area and right in the mix with the chasers. The Taupo triathlete was up and on his bike in a flash but his chain had come off and in the time it took to dismount and fix, the pack had ridden a minute down the road.

Out of transition two the Kiwis were unable to go with the pace of Brownlee (GBR) as he ran his customary quick first kilometre to gap the field, leaving a chase group of Gomez (ESP) and Vidal (FRA) in his wake. Gemmell and Ellice were the best of the Kiwis but just didn’t have the leg speed on a taxing day.

Brownlee ran superbly to win from Gomez with Vidal rounding out the podium. Gemmell ran a fast second 5km to finish 9th while Ellice continued his recent consistent run with 15th.

The New Plymouth athlete was pleased with another consistent showing.

“I just need to sort out last 2km on the run, that was when I really felt the effort. But it was freezing cold, and I haven’t seen as many crashes in a World Cup race for a long time. It was very dangerous, the key was to be careful, stay near the lead on the bike and out of trouble.

“A lot of top guys felt the cold with the likes of Frodeno, Kahlefeldt and others struggling. I guess today it helped to come from Taranaki! 15th felt good, I’m starting to get a feel for racing again.”

Of the other Kiwis a bruised Docherty ran bravely to 27th, Callum Millward 32nd on debut and Dylan McNeice was 35th. Martin Van Barneveld and Graham O’Grady failed to finish. Docherty ran down a number of athletes in the 10km despite his crash and bruising but was ruing another poor result after his first up win in Korea.

Gemmell described the result as a good one in light of the circumstances in a long and tough series.

“I feel like I have ground out a good result out of a bad situation, I’ve toughed out a result when things went against me, that is what this series is all about at the moment. Now Alistair has 3 race wins, it is about trying to get a result every time to put yourself in contention at the season ending Gold Coast race.”

ITU Dextro Energy Triathlon World Championship Series

Kitzbuhel, Austria

Elite Men

Elite Women

2am Monday 13th July