Triathlon: Gemmell wary of the risk-takers

Kiwi triathlete Kris Gemmell. Photo / Kenny Rodger

New Zealander Kris Gemmell is wary of the risk-takers going into this weekend's triathlon world championship series finale in Budapest.

Gemmell, ranked 33rd in the world, believes the sport is changing rapidly, and further evidence of that will be on show this weekend.

He said last month's Kitzbuhel world series event "opened new doors in our sport".

"The sport is changing so much... Jan Frodeno, Javier Gomez and Al Brownlee are running fast.

"Guys know they are a minute slower on the run and out of the race before they start if they get off the bike alongside them."

Gemmell said that meant more people were prepared to attack on the bike leg, especially if they weren't in contention for overall series honours.

"I think there will be some risk takers out there and we will have to be really aware on the bike.

"I wouldn't be surprised if a group goes away while the others race tactically for the overall series."

Gemmell arrived in Budapest from his altitude training camp just three days before his race on Saturday (NZT).

"I decided from start of the year to spend our time up here at Font Romeu as part of a process to work out how altitude works for the big races," he said.

"It's different for everybody but for me, staying at altitude right up until a couple of days before works well."

With New Zealand No 1 Bevan Docherty resting to recover from a form slump, Gemmell heads the New Zealand hopes as the challenging world championship series nears an end.

He said the introduction of a season-long championship was at odds with his planning and that of Sparc and Triathlon New Zealand.

"This year Sparc and Tri NZ asked us to peak at a couple of key races and for me that meant Des Moines and here in Budapest," Gemmell said.

"I've already ticked off one (second in Des Moines) and now plan to race well in Budapest and prove I can race well on the day that matters."

Gemmell will be joined in the elite men's race by fellow New Zealanders Martin van Barneveld (Wellington), Clark Ellice (New Plymouth) and Ben Pattle (Auckland).

- NZPA