KEY POINTS:
New Zealand triathlete Samantha Warriner picked up her ninth career World Cup series podium when finishing second in the latest event in England on Monday (NZ time).
Warriner headed a spirited New Zealand performance in the elite women's race, as Debbie Tanner came seventh and Taryn McLeod 32nd in Manchester.
Bevan Docherty finished sixth in the elite men's race.
The women's event turned into a day for the runners after 42 competitors exited the bike leg within 20 seconds of one other.
That played into the hands of world No 1 Vanessa Fernandes, of Portugal, Olympic champion Kate Allen, of Austria, and Warriner.
Warriner made her intentions clear with a great transition and was the only athlete to challenge Fernandes in the run home but she could do little to stay with the Portuguese, who went on to win her 17th World Cup race.
"At one stage I had nosed in front of Vanessa and had a great smile on my face but she has been training so hard so she deserves the win," Warriner said.
"I tried to chase her but she had too much on the day but to hold off the Olympic champion (Kate Allen) is an amazing feeling."
The results for the New Zealanders were all the more encouraging because they are aiming towards the Beijing World Cup race in September as the first Olympic qualifying race and had not tapered for the England race.
Meanwhile, world No 2 Docherty New Zealand, in his first race for one month, was well in the mix entering the run but fell off the pace in a race won by Spaniard Javier Gomez.
"I had the luxury of a short break three weeks ago and have only just started building up again for the big races later in the year so didn't expect much today," he said.
"However that doesn't take away the fact it always sucks not being on the podium, but the bigger picture is the world championships and the Beijing race later in the year."
The race did work out as planned for New Zealand's Clark Ellice.
The handle bar on his bike snapped in two, forcing his immediate withdrawal.
- NZPA
