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Controversy reigned at the Takapuna round of the national triathlon series yesterday.
World-ranked New Zealand triathletes Andrea Hewitt and Kris Gemmell emerged victorious but things went far from smoothly in the women's race.
Hewitt won from a fast-finishing Sam Warriner, while Gemmell out-sprinted Frenchman Laurent Vidal and rising Aucklander Ryan Sissons.
Confusion on the bike-run transition helped Hewitt who was part of bike group that included Warriner, Lisa Norden of Sweden, South African Kate Roberts, Aucklanders Debbie Tanner and Rebecca Spence, and Wellingtonian Kate McIlroy.
Warriner, Norden and Spence all rode too far, missed the turnoff to the transition area and had to retrace their steps at least 200m.
Furious bike leader Spence confronted officials before exiting the race in disgust while Warriner appeared angry across the finish line.
World No 1 ranked Warriner gathered in most of the field but the short 4.65km run didn't allow enough time to catch Hewitt. The Christchurch athlete was delighted with her first race of the season.
In the men's race, Gemmell and Vidal emerged from the 500m swim with a 20-second lead on the chase pack and put their heads down to establish a big lead on the bike.
Despite their best efforts to open up a margin on the bike leg, they couldn't shake the chasing pack.
The bunch closed in right on transition, causing mayhem as some riders pushed too hard into the tight dismount area, leading to a crash.
Sissons set the pace on the run but Gemmell never let him break clear and made his move 500m out.
- NZPA
