Multisports: Tanner second in Hamburg triathlon

Auckland's Debbie Tanner bounced back from last week's disastrous world championships to finish second in a triathlon World Cup series race in Hamburg, Germany, this morning (NZ time).

The race, featuring a top-class field, was won by Portugal's world No 1, Vanessa Fernandes in one hour 53 minutes 11 seconds, just 11 seconds faster then Tanner.

Third was Laura Bennett of the United States, who was a further 1min 14sec back.

Tanner and Fernandes had something to prove after being favourites going into the world championships where a disappointing run left Fernandes with the silver medal and a bike crash left Tanner in 23rd spot.

After the 1500m wetsuit swim in Alster Lake, Tanner was among a small group including Fernandes, Bennett, Briton Liz Blatchford, Australian Emma Moffat and German favourite Joelle Franzmann who exited the water just behind American Sara McLarty.

They quickly formed a lead group at the front of the bike leg and by the end of the 40km bike leg, the seven athletes had a 90-second gap over a chasing bunch of 26.

Fernandes and Tanner tore into the run to separate themselves from the rest of the field and ran neck to neck for the first 7km.

Fernandes made her move with 3km to go and although Tanner responded at first, she was unable to hold the pace of the fleet-footed Portuguese athlete.

"When she kicked, she kicked pretty hard and she got a little gap which I tried to bridge but wasn't able," Tanner, 23, said.

"It was really exciting to get out there and be up there on the run and be able to contest it."

With the win, Fernandes stays atop of the World Cup standings with Franzmann and Canadian Lauren Groves in second and third after their results today.

Of the other New Zealanders, Samantha Warriner finished eighth and Andrea Hewitt 45th while Taryn McLeod and Anna Elvery did not finish.

In the men's event, New Zealand's Bevan Docherty finished fourth in a time of 1hr 43min 24sec to finish 23s behind winner Javier Gomez of Spain in a world class field.

Olympic bronze medallist Sven Riederer Switzerland was second in 1hr 43min 15sec and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia was third in 1hr 43min 21sec.

Two other New Zealanders, Kris Gemmel, finished 13th in 1hr 43min 56sec, and Shane Reed 32nd in 1hr 45min 40sec.

- NZPA