New Zealand triathlete Kris Gemmell has finished 13th at the latest ITU World Cup race, a race that was reduced to a sprint distance event at Guatape, Colombia.
Heavy overnight rains caused a landslide, blocking half the bike course which forced race officials to reduce the race to a sprint distance – 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. The rain did not relent on race day either as athletes faced miserably cold and wet conditions.
It was a twist of fate not in favour of Palmerston North's Gemmell, as yet again wintry like conditions have followed the former World Cup winner around the circuit this year, this time though the issue was compounded as a tough bike course likely to suit Gemmell was reduced to half distance.
Gemmell was wondering if the weather gods were well and truly against him when posting before and post race to his twitter followers.
"Another race in the rain and cold, this Olympic Winter bid joke is getting a bit old," tweeted Gemmell before he again cursed his luck post race when the weather changed on cue.
"One hour later here in Guatape and the sun is out and it's beating down! Mother Nature has really taken to our series this year."
With altitude also playing a huge part at Guatape, it was not surprising that the top ten were dominated by athletes who had either come from the same height or in fact down from their training bases to compete and were therefore able to cope best with the lack of oxygen.
Gemmell though is already looking forward to Auckland where he will line up in the Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Cup race on November 20 with the course on the Auckland waterfront likely to test athletes with its hilly bike in and around the Domain and CBD – and hopefully the weather is a little more temperate than has been the case too often this year.
Results: ITU World Cup Triathlon - Guatape, Colombia
Elite Men
750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
1. Etienne Demunsch FRA 57:15
2. Crisanto Grajales MEX 57:22
3. Tony Moulai FRA 57:26
4. Jose Miguel Perez ESP 57:30
5. Carlos Javier Quinchara COL 57:33
Plus
13. Kris Gemmell NZL 57:59
