Kris Gemmell won the Takapuna triathlon in a sprint finish today as the expected duel with fellow Olympian Bevan Docherty never eventuated.
Gemmell outsprinted 21-year-old Ryan Sissons to win by one second, with France's world No 6 Laurent Vidal third.
Race favourite Docherty's chances were ended when he was forced to pull over and change his wheel after a puncture on the first lap of the bike. Despite the setback, the two-time Olympic medallist showed his class as he continued to finish 17th.
Gemmell was disappointed for his mate but delighted to win before a big crowd which lined the streets.
"It was such a shame to have that happen to Bevan, it could have been a great sprint finish between us on our home soil. It was such a great atmosphere out there though, there were so many people making so much noise, it felt like a world champs with the crowd out there today," Gemmell said.
While disappointed for Docherty, he was pleased to see a Kiwi take second place.
"I am working with Ryan as a mentor through Triathlon New Zealand high performance programme, I might have to stop telling him my tips." Gemmell laughed.
"He is a super talented athlete and is going really well."
Sissons was a model student for Gemmell today, sitting on his wheel the entire ride.
"I knew Gemmell was the strongest runner in our pack, so I just sat in and followed him as best I could," he said.
His tactic paid off as the two dropped Vidal, Tony Dodds and Clark Ellice in the final lap of the run.
In the women's race, which assembled one of the strongest international fields for some years in New Zealand, Briton Vicky Holland and the Czech Republic's Vendula Frintova were first and second, with Andrea Hewitt the first New Zealander across the line.
Compatriots Kate McIlroy and Debbie Tanner were fourth and fifth respectively.
Currently ranked 76th in the world, Holland was very happy with her day.
"It was very hard but worth it. We have been training in Canberra and came across just for this race - it is my first race of the year, my first time racing in New Zealand - so I am very happy with how things went."
Hewitt made it two bronze medals for her household, matching boyfriend Vidal's third place.
"My goal today was to run well, which I achieved. It was fast but I felt good for this time of the year."
It was a disappointing day for Kiwi Sam Warriner who suffered a freak accident early in the bike, crashing to the main street and requiring medical assistance to cuts and abrasions and a broken wrist.
Warriner's race number had become entangled in her front wheel coming out of transition and while Warriner removed the number and belt, the plastic clip was caught in the wheel and soon jammed, bringing Warriner to a sudden halt.
"The news is actually quite good, the break is the best you can have if you are going to break a wrist and will only keep me out for about 10 days, but in that time I will still be on the bike and doing some running so this won't slow me down. I was feeling great out there and am looking forward to a big year, this won't slow me down."
