Triathlon: Sissons has (black) eye on the prize

New Zealand triathlete Ryan Sissons placed sixth a year ago in Auckland. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Swim buoy drama leaves Kiwi worse for wear but raring to go in Auckland

Triathlon is supposed to be a non-contact sport but Ryan Sissons has the physical evidence to prove otherwise.

The New Zealand triathlete was kicked and punched in the face in his last race, the World Cup event in New Plymouth last weekend, and emerged with a black eye.

"With the amount of competitors on the start line and the rough conditions and everyone fighting on a short first leg of the 750m swim, it became difficult at the first buoy as everyone converged," he said.

"It was a bit freakish. I got stuck around one of the ropes on the buoy and it just stopped my forward momentum. Then I got swum over and pulled back. I was mauled and lost my goggles and was kicked and punched in the face. You come out of it pretty startled and from then it was difficult to rectify."

From that point, Sissons' race was essentially over as the field cleared out ahead of him, leaving too much work to do on the bike.

He has no lingering effects from the injury, other than a black eye and a strong desire to put together a strong race in Sunday's Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Series triathlon in Auckland.

"The head is fine now, my face was a bit swollen and I have a black eye but it hasn't stopped me from doing anything this week so it has been okay," Sissons said.

"On Sunday I just want to put a good solid race together and get everything right. I want a solid performance that I know I'm capable of.

"I have been training well and I am certainly fit. It is a case of going out and putting all three disciplines together ... I won't be doing anything crazy. I am just after a solid race."

Memories of last year will help leading up to the race that features a world-class field, including world No1 Mario Mola (Spain), returning champion Javier Gomez (Spain) and Olympic bronze medallist Jonathan Brownlee (England). Sissons was sixth a year ago.

"Last year was a risky move but it was a great race and very memorable to perform like that at home."

Sissons says his focus on improving his swim over recent months has only added to his frustration from New Plymouth. "I have been working on the swim fairly hard for the past six months, then New Plymouth went pretty horrible, which was quite demoralising when you work so hard and get destroyed. Auckland is another opportunity."

Sissons will be joined by fellow New Zealanders Tony Dodds and Sam Osborne in the elite men's race.

2015 World Series

March 28-29: Auckland

April 11-12: Gold Coast, Australia

April 25-26: Cape Town, South Africa

May 16-17: Yokohama, Japan

Dates TBC: London, Great Britain

July 18-19: Hamburg, Germany

August 22-23: Stockholm, Sweden

September 5-6: Edmonton, Canada

September 15-20: Chicago, USA

Rankings

Men

1. Mario Mola (ESP)

2. Vincent Luis (FRA)

3. Richard Murray (RSA)

4. Joao Silva (POR)

5. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR)

6. Javier Gomez (ESP)

7. Fernando Alarza (ESP)

8. Igor Polyansky (RUS)

9. Vicente Hernandez (ESP)

10. Sven Riederer (SUI)

Women
1. Gwen Jorgensen (USA)
2. Katie Zaferes(USA)
3. Flora Duffy (BER)
4. Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI)
5. Andrea Hewitt (NZL)
6. Lindsey Jerdonek (USA)
7. Charlotte McShane (AUS)
8. Yuka Sato (JPN)
9. Sarah True (USA)
10. Kaitlin Donner (USA)