Triathlon: Sissons climbs to seventh heading in to grand final

Ryan Sissons of New Zealand in action. pHOTO / Nick Reed

New Zealand triathlete Ryan Sissons has produced his third straight top-10 finish in taking fourth at the World Triathlon Series race in Stockholm.

The 29-year-old Zimbabwe-born Kiwi now sits seventh in the series rankings as he prepares for the grand final in Rotterdam on September 14-17. Sissons came out of the choppy 1500m swim 35s down on the leaders, setting to work on the bike in the first chase pack behind a flying front group of six driven by British star Jonathan Brownlee.

The lead pack extended their advantage to over a minute on the eight-lap cycle leg before Sissons' group hauled the deficit back going on to the run.

The Kiwi stuck with Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt and Frenchman Pierre Le Corre as they chased down all but the flying Brownlee, who went on to win emphatically in 1h 49m 10s.

Sissons slipped back in the final sprint but was content with fourth over the testing Stockholm circuit.

"I would have loved to have been on the podium again but overall it was pretty solid," he said. "I was happy to get fourth on what is a brutal course. All is on track for a big race in Rotterdam in three weeks."

Sissons will return to his training base in Spain before a final shakedown race in France next weekend ahead of Rotterdam.

Compatriot Andrea Hewitt fought her way back to finish 10th after coming out of the swim more than 1m 20s down on the leaders.

Hewitt is still third overall going into the Rotterdam final.