Ryan Sissons was once again the best of the Kiwi male triathletes as the 23 year old continued a consistent season of racing at the top level with a 13th place finish at today's Dextro Energy ITU World Championship Series event in Yokohama, Japan.
 Ryan Sissons(Photo: Triathlon NZ; click to enlarge) |
"I'm really happy on what was a pretty tough and hot day so yeah, I am happy to finish in 13th," said Sissons. "Every race is still a learning curve for me, but I am happy to be in top 15 to 20 for the whole year and know that I have done it on all courses and conditions, this week even more so given I have had to back up after a tough race in Beijing.
"I wasn't feeling too fantastic on the bike; I was just trying to keep the legs going. Once off the bike a few went out pretty hard, but it is so hot and I knew some would suffer so I went out conservatively and picked away at them until the last lap when a few more came back to me before the finish line."
Sissons is now ready to come home but not for any rest.
"I have a couple of days easy only and then I am back into it. I fly home tomorrow and then plan to do a few running races and get ready for the Auckland World Cup race in November."
In hot and humid conditions, James Elvery (Auckland) was one of few to mix it with the Russians on the swim leg, emerging from the water in 6th place behind four wearing red white and blue, while Bevan Docherty (Taupo) was 16 seconds behind inside the top 20 and Sissons (Auckland) a further 19 seconds back.
The Russians quickly made a play for a break-away but thanks largely to good work by Elvery and Docherty on the bike, they were quickly closed down and the field settled in for the 40km bike with the majority in the large lead group, including Sissons.
Once on the run however it was clear this was not to be the Kiwis day with Docherty withdrawing after the first lap of four while Sissons looked to find some rhythm in the 34 degree heat, eventually sitting just inside the top twenty before moving his way up the field. Elvery faded on the 10km run to eventually finish well back, suffering from the effects of the heat and illness picked up last week in Beijing.
Sissons once again however raced with the consistency he has started to produce at this level, coming home 13th to back up his 14th place finish in Beijing last week and get his 2012 points off to a good start after the Aucklander finished 18th in the 2011 rankings in his first serious tilt at elite level racing.
Points from today in Yokohama will count towards next year's ITU World Championship Series due to the postponement of the event in May this year as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the eastern seaboard of Japan.
Results: Dextro Energy ITU World Championship Series
Yokohama, Japan
Elite Men
1. Joao Silva POR 1:49:21
2. Alexander Bryukhankov RUS 1:49:36
3. Dmitry Polyansky RUS 1:50:04
4. Simon Whitfield CAN 1:50:25
5. Matt Chrabot USA 1:50:25
6. Ruedi Wild SUI 1:50:18
7. Adam Bowden GBR 1:50:19
8. Tim Don GBR 1:50:27
9. Brent McMahon CAN 1:50:29
10. Yuichi Hosoda JPN 1:50:42
Plus NZers
13. Ryan Sissons NZL 1:51:03
44. James Elvery NZL 1:56:46
DNF Bevan Docherty NZL
