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Bevan Docherty - Source: Triathlon.org.nz -
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Bevan Docherty sent the triathlon world a message as he began
the 2010 World Championship Series with a master class performance,
smashing a world class field in Sydney on Sunday morning.
The 33-year-old swam comfortably, rode within himself and then
destroyed the field on the run home.
"This is awesome; it is great to start the season like this,
especially in Sydney. I remember back in 2000 I was watching Simon
(Whitfield) crossing the line in the Olympics and I thought how
cool would that be to be there one day...This is just such a buzz,
such a great feeling, amongst the best in my career."
Docherty paced his race to perfection with a strong swim and bike
that included a break at the end of the 40km, one that would prove
crucial on the run home.
"The plan was to go easy in the first kilometre on the run and hold
back, that worked to perfection when I found myself on a break in
the bike and had 20 seconds coming into transition and was feeling
good.
"I took it easy for that first kilometre, waited for the group and
they smashed themselves to catch up to me...At that point I told
myself 15 minutes of pain, 15 minutes of pain Bevan and dropped
them off one by one."
The pace was on from the start with the Russians leading the way
through the 1500m swim as expected but the field followed in close
proximity with the Kiwis comfortable in the main bunch.
On the testing eight lap bike around the Sydney CBD and waterfront,
the Kiwis were quickly to the fore with Docherty breaking clear on
the uphill on McQuarrie street and taking young Australian James
Seear with him.
The field was aware of the threat the two time Olympic medallist
posed though and worked to close the gap and shut down the
break.
Hunter Kemper (USA) and Chuchko (RUS) did go clear with three laps
to go on the bike and this time the chase group let them go, the
gap increasing to 25 seconds on a small chase group coming into
transition before the 10km run.
The main pack was a minute back but crucially, Docherty made a move
late on the bike to be 47 seconds down on the leaders and put some
vital time on the chasers, including Kris Gemmell and the remainder
of the Kiwis.
On the run the chase pack formed with Docherty settling in with
them as they looked to close the gap on Kemper, Tony Moulai (FRA)
and Matt Chrabot (USA) as Chuchko faded badly in the opening
kilometre.
Docherty put the foot down at the halfway mark and soon had some of
the best the sport has seen struggling in his wake.
2000 Olympic Games champion Simon Whitfield (CAN), Brad Kahlefeldt
(AUS), Laurent Vidal FRA), Peter Robertson (AUS), Greg Bennett
(AUS) and unfortunately Gemmell all faded as the big Kiwi surged to
hit the lead with 3km to run.
The only one to go with Docherty was Polyanski (RUS) but with 1500m
to go Docherty again surged and the 23-year-old was broken, so much
so that he fell back into the field and missed the podium with
countryman Alexander Brukankov and Frenchman David Hauss the other
medallists.
Other Kiwis
Gemmell paid a price for a flat patch on the second lap and
finished back in 15th, but the Palmerston North triathlete was
looking at the positives.
"I was a bit flat was all but if you are 5% off in this type of
field, you are not going to be there at the end. I tried to get a
rhythm straight away but hit a flat patch on the second lap and
lost all my time then, for the rest of the race I only lost 10
seconds to Bevan.
"It feels kind of weird, this time last year I was banging doors
down and then couldn't hold on for the end of the season, this year
I hope to build into it and be stronger for longer."
It was an impressive overall display by the Kiwis on a tough
day.
Close behind Gemmell came Ryan Sissons, Clark Ellice and Ben Pattle
all around the 20 mark with official results not yet posted.
Unfortunately, James Elvery crashed out when approaching transition
at the end of the bike.
ITU Dextro Energy World Champs Series
Sydney
Elite Men
1 Bevan Docherty NZL 1:51:27
2 Alexander Brukankov RUS 1:51:33
3 David Hauss FRA 1:51:34
4 Dmitry Polyanksky RUS 1:51:40
5 Simon Whitfield CAN 1:51:42
6 Tony Moulai FRA 1:51:49
7 Greg Bennett AUS 1:51:53
8 Laurent Vidal FRA 1:51:54
9 Matt Chrabot USA 1:51:56
10 Hunter Kemper USA 1:52:07
Plus Kiwis
15 Kris Gemmell NZL
TBC Ryan Sissons NZL
TBC Clark Ellice NZL
TBC Ben Pattle NZL
TBC Callum Millward NZL
DNF James Elvery NZL
In the women's race,
Kiwi Andrea Hewitt finished second in an
agonisingly close sprint finish.
