Multisports: World title next goal for Ussher

Richard Ussher. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand's No 1 multisport and adventure racing athlete, Richard Ussher, is changing his focus for 2011 after a closely fought win at the Paymark XTERRA Rotorua Festival yesterday.

The four-time Coast to Coast champion took line honours in the 1km swim, 29km mountain bike and 11km trail run event. In second place, just over a minute behind, was last year's defending champion, Scott Thorne (Hamilton).

Ussher (Nelson) will now for the first time in his career turn his major focus to the XTERRA world championships in Maui on October 23rd.

"The XTERRA format is a really good mix of racing for me with the off-road element but still the triathlon structure. I have been to the world champs in Maui twice now - in 2009 my seat post broke and I finished 11th; in 2010 I crashed my bike and finished in seventh place.

"So I definitely have some unfinished business there."

Ussher led off the bike with Thorne right behind him, Ussher's experience and strength seeing him through to his second win in Rotorua, having won in 2009.

It was a different story in the women's race with first-time triathlete, Karen Hanlen, upsetting the women's field with a come-from-behind win. Hanlen (Whakatane) surprised even herself with the win, especially given her inexperience.

"That was my first ever triathlon and first ever open water swim," she said.