Gomez imperious in victory while Moffat may have booked a spot in Beijing

Australian Emma Moffat may well have booked herself a spot at the Beijing Olympic Games with victory at the ITU BG World Cup at New Plymouth today, while Spaniard Javier Gomez has laid down the standard with a stunning victory in the men’s race.

New Plymouth was the second of three Olympic trials for the Australians and Moffat is not attending the third in Ishigaki so knew she had to put it on the line today. She did just that in comfortably running clear of U23 World Champion Lisa Norden and countrywoman Felicity Abram.

“I guess I can go in with a little bit of confidence now with a little bit less pressure,” said the Australian after her second World Cup win.

“I had a good swim and didn’t get hit or battered so that takes away a lot of anxiety.”

Training on the Gold Coast for six months paid off for Sweden’s Norden who came in second, backing up from her third place finish at Mooloolaba last weekend.

“I’m going to be on a buzz for quite a while, it will last me for about a week. I had a very good run (last week) and didn’t really know if I was going to be able to pull out another one of those runs but I think I’m in pretty good form at the moment. ”

Leading the Kiwis home in seventh was Nicky Samuels who overcame the disappointment of missing Olympic selection during the week to put on a brave display to lead the field off the bike, knowing that was her best chance of a top finish.

She was stoked with making the top ten especially coming just days after missing out on selection for Beijing.

“It would be a good experience for me to go this year and to perhaps even help Sam Warriner out if she wanted to give it a go and I could break away on the bike or something like that. But never mind I’ve got four more years down the track because I’m younger than the others.”

Fellow New Zealander Samantha Warriner followed Samuels across the finish line in eighth place. Before the race she talked about working on her swimming but was disappointed with her run today.

“I was running really well in training so I’m a little bit gutted about that. Perhaps it was too much work on the bike. To get top ten though in my first World Cup of the season is pleasing and where I want to be. I have a few things to work on and it is still a long way to the Olympics so yeah, it was okay.”

 

GOMEZ SIMPLY UNTOUCHABLE

In the men’s race it was an incredible fifteenth consecutive podium and ninth win in those fifteen races for Spaniard Javier Gomez.

The world number one was imperious in running down a one minute deficit on six athletes heading out on the ten kilometre run, turning out an incredible sub 30 minute time to simply outclass one of the strongest fields assembled in the sport.

“Yeah I was feeling so good on the run,” said the likeable Spaniard.

“I had a good run last weekend. Today was even better and I think I did a very complete race from the swim to the run. I'm just so happy with my job.”

“But no, it wasn't easy. We have to work hard and break away with 12 or 13 guys and we start to run with 1 minute back so I have to run fast from the start. I'm very happy with the start of the run today.”

Left in his wake were world number two Brad Kahledfelt (AUS), Andrew Johns (GBR) and Kiwi charger Kris Gemmell who himself ran close to a 30 minutes for the ten kilometres.

Johns result was a fillip for the experienced Brit who could not get into the field in Mooloolaba last week as he makes a late play for Beijing, his third today made the trip down under worthwhile.

The race had earlier lost some of its shine for the big local crowd when Beijing bound New Plymouth resident Shane Reed withdrew after failing in his race to repair his back, injured in a fall at Mooloolaba last weekend.

Bevan Docherty did not feature either, withdrawing during the swim leg citing fatigue and tiredness after peaking two weeks ago. While not happy it was something he expected given the stage of his preparation and training with bigger races coming later in the season.

Gemmell was fulsome in his praise of the world number one Gomez.

“Initially though I thought he was panicking a bit to be honest. Like in the bike he started going to the front and I thought oh he’s doing some work! The guy can just run it’s unbelievable, I spoke about it before the race that some athletes can somehow be so consistent over such a period and yet still look to peak in Beijing.”

“I’m just not one of those but come to think of it there’s no way I thought I was going to run that fast today so I’m way ahead of schedule.”

“You just saw the benchmark of triathlon now, you know. It’s unbelievable.”

Bozzone had a strong face through the swim and bike legs, featuring at or near the head of the field and led out on to the run. But as in Mooloolaba, he faded in the run to finish 24th.

“I’m not recovering properly after last weekend and maybe giving it a bit much out there in the swim and the bike. I just wanted to come down here as it’s been a while since I’ve raced in New Zealand and the crowds are great and I’ve received so much support from Kiwis in the past and wanted to come down here and make it a good race for them. Sorry I couldn't make it up the front.”

 

Elite Women, ITU BG World Cup, New Plymouth

1 Emma Moffatt AUS 2.01.01

2 Lisa Norden SWE 2.01.06

3 Felicity Abram AUS 2.01.16

4 Daniela Ryf SUI 2.01.47

5 Liz Blatchford GBR 2.01.49

Plus Kiwis

7 Nicky Samuels Whangarei 2.02.09

8 Sam Warriner Whangarei 2.02.42

10 Andrea Hewitt Christchurch 2.03.02

36 Carmel Hanley Auckland 2.10.41

40 Kelly Bruce Auckland 2.16.21

DNF Anna Elvery

DSQ Katherine Anton

 

Elite Men, ITU BG World Cup, New Plymouth

1 Javier Gomez SPN 1.47.33

2 Brad Kahledfeldt AUS 1.48.03

3 Andrew Johns GBR 1.48.16

4 Kris Gemmell NZ (P Nth) 1.48.26

5 Peter Croes BEL 1.48.30

Plus Kiwis

24 Terenzo Bozzone AUCK 1.50.10

33 James Elvery AUCK 1.51.32

52 Clark Ellice AUCK 1.55.56

54 Ben Visser AUCK 1.56.53

56 Martin Van Barneveld AUCK 1.57.23