Triathlon: Stars fade in cup race

Olympic triathlon champion Hamish Carter again edged his New Zealand rival and world champion Bevan Docherty, but both played second fiddle to Australians in the World Cup race in Queensland yesterday.

Carter finished seventh in his first International Triathlon Union (ITU) race of the season and Docherty withdrew during the run on a tough, undulating course in windy conditions in Mooloolaba.

Australian Simon Thompson grabbed his first World Cup victory ahead of compatriot Courtney Atkinson and former New Zealander Paul Amey, who now races for Great Britain.

Olympic Games silver medallist Loretta Harrop won the women's race to lead an Australian trifecta ahead of 2003 world champion Emma Snowsill, and Annabel Luxford.

The demanding nature of the lumpy sea swim and hilly bike course took its toll on Carter and Docherty.

"It was tough out there. First race back you forget. When I came off the bike I thought I was back in Athens but I quickly found out how tough it is," Carter said.

"Overall, though, I was pleased with my first race. It's great to be back racing again."

Carter and Docherty were in the lead pack out of the water and in a small group that made a break midway through the bike until Thompson cleared out with fellow Australian Matt Hopper on the fifth of eight laps. The pair opened a lead of one minute 30 seconds at the end of the 40km bike from a group including the two New Zealanders.

Thompson quickly went clear on the four-lap, 10km run to hold off Atkinson and Amey, with Carter battling on for seventh.

Whangarei's Sam Warriner was the leading New Zealand woman in eighth, ahead of compatriot Debbie Tanner in ninth.

The fourth round of the ITU World Cup is in Ishigaki, Japan, in a fortnight.

- NZPA