Bevan Docherty was the best of the Kiwis in the men's race at the ITU Dextro Energy World Championship Series triathlon in Seoul today, but was unable to shake off the effects of a head cold in finishing 7th in a race won by Beijing Olympic Games gold medalist Jan Frodeno (GER).
Fellow Kiwi Kris Gemmell finished in 28th despite leading the field off the bike, but the Palmerston North triathlete just didn't have the run in him today, dropping back through the field throughout the ten kilometre 4 lap course around the Seoul waterfront.
Frodeno repeated his sprinting heroics from Beijing as he ran around Australian Courtney Atkinson after the two had broken clear just past the midway point in the 10km run, spreading the field out behind them as they picked up the pace. Another Australian Brad Kahlefeldt was third 29 seconds behind the big German they call 'Frodo'.
It was a welcome return for Frodeno after a crash on the bike robbed him of any chance in the first round in Sydney, won so impressively by Docherty. The field rode the majority of the 40km bike in one large group around the tight and technical course around the Seoul city centre before emerging in a mass of lycra and sunglasses onto the run course.
Today's 7th by Docherty sees him drop just one place however in the overall World Championship Series points to second place behind Russian Alexander Brukhankov and in front of another Russian in Dmitry Polyansky in third.
It was generally a disappointing day for the New Zealanders with Martin van Barneveld and Clark Ellice well down the field.
Earlier Andrea Hewitt raced bravely to finish 5th in the women's race and drop to third on the overall points. The women's race review and results are available at www.triathlon.org.nz
The next round of the World Championship Series is not until Sunday June 6 when the athletes head to Europe and race in Madrid.
ITU Dextro Energy World Championship Series: Seoul, Korea
Elite Men
1 Jan Frodeno GER 1:51:49
2 Courtney Atkinson AUS 1:51:51
3 Brad Kahlefeldt AUS 1:52:18
4 Stefan Justus GER 1:52:22
5 Andrej Brukhankov RUS 1:52:29
Plus NZers
7 Bevan Docherty NZL 1:52:42
28 Kris Gemmell NZL 1:54:22
37 Martin van Barneveld NZL 1:55:00
50 Clark Ellice NZL 1:58:18
Overall ITU Dextro Energy World Championship Series Standings
Elite Men
1 Alexander Brukhankov RUS 1326
2 Bevan Docherty NZL 1301
3 Dmitry Polyansky RUS 1175
4 Brad Kahlefeldt AUS 1052
5 Jan Frodeno GER 871
Plus NZers
23 Kris Gemmell NZL 366
32 Ryan Sissons NZL 197
35 Clark Ellice NZL 156
37 Ben Pattle NZL 144
49 Tony Dodds NZL 77
53 Callum Millward NZL 61
59 Martin van Barneveld NZL 48
Elite Women
1 Barbara Riveros Diaz CHI 1540
2 Emma Moffatt AUS 1370
3 Andrea Hewitt NZL 1326
4 Daniela Ryf SUI 1229
5 Mariko Adachi JPN 1134
Plus NZers
12 Debbie Tanner NZL 587
26 Kate McIlroy NZL 213
30 Nicky Samuels NZL 168
40 Teresa Adam NZL 77
