KEY POINTS:
Top triathlete Bevan Docherty has mixed feelings about the withdrawal of the top seed for the final International Triathlon Union series race of the season in New Plymouth tomorrow.
Spain's Javier Gomez withdrew after winning the Cancun triathlon in Mexico last weekend and gaining an unassailable World Cup series lead in the process.
His absence from New Plymouth leaves New Zealand's Docherty with one less obstacle, but the Olympic Games silver medallist said he was confident either way.
"It kind of sucks because I think I'm in good enough shape to take him on or bring him down, but it will probably make my job a little bit easier," said Docherty.
He said there would still be a tight battle among the internationals for second and third spot in the series and that would provide plenty of motivation for the likes of American Hunter Kemper, who is ranked third in the World Cup series, fifth-ranked Volodymyr Polikarpenko, of Ukraine, and sixth-ranked Andy Potts, of the United States.
But Docherty, who won in New Plymouth last year just ahead of fourth-ranked compatriot Kris Gemmell, knows his fellow countryman will be breathing down his neck again.
He narrowly beat Gemmell into second place in Noosa last month and said if he wished a good performance on anyone it would be him. "He's a good mate and has trained really hard this year, so he deserves a good race."
Docherty, who is ranked 12th in the World Cup series, said points were not hugely important for him this year. However, that was likely to change when Olympic Games qualifying began next year.
In the elite women's race, Whangarei's Nicky Samuels and Samantha Warriner have both had good results on the international circuit this year and will be among the main threats.
Other highly rated local competitors include Anna Hamilton, Evelyn Williamson, Kelly Bruce, Andrea Hewitt and Taryn McLeod. Top-10 ranked international women's competitors include Laura Bennett, of the US, Lauren Groves, of Canada, Briton Andrea Whitcombe and Germany's Anja Dittmer. Top-ranked Australian Emma Snowsill has withdrawn.
- NZPA
