Chicago threw up another tough day with hot and humid conditions for the elite men at the ITU World Series race today with Ryan Sissons in 16th the best of the Kiwis.
Sissons ran home strongly to overtake close to a dozen competitors in the final few kilometres, including countryman Tony Dodds (28th) with Tom Davison withdrawing early on the run.
National coach Greg Fraine looked back on a race that didn't pan out as planned.
"Tom just overheated and made the call to withdraw early in the run. For Tom to continue was only going to risk a week's training so in that regard it was a sensible decision.
"Today was hotter than yesterday and had a big impact. We knew there was a risk coming in here late with the chance it could get hot but the focus is on the Commonwealth Games and today was about accumulating points and progressing towards that goal.
"Both Ryan and Tony felt flat today. Doddsy went with the front early on the run and gave himself a shot but quickly realized it was survival from then on. Ryan said he felt flat on the bike, and that was after he had a reasonable swim. 30 seconds down out of the water he was quickly into the front pack on the bike, then ran home reasonably strongly with Doddsy tailing off towards the end.
"We now head to our base in Europe before sharpening up in Hamburg over the sprint distance before putting the finishing touches on our Glasgow preparation. They will train through Hamburg and use that event as a key session for Glasgow."
Sissons, Dodds and Tom Davison all swam well enough to be in the first chase group out of the water and with Davison leading the group took no time to form a large lead pack of 33 on the bike on the tight and technical Chicago course.
Davison was constantly on the front of the group, in amongst the race favourites Mario Mola (ESP), Javier Gomez (ESP) and Joao Pereira (POR). Davison eventually rode clear off the front and with Cameron Good (AUS) established a 42 second lead coming into transition.
That lead was however quickly lost as Davison immediately struggled once on to the run and the big guns took control of the race with Gomez breaking clear just after the midway point from Mola and Pereira.
Dodds was prominent early on the run, mixing it with the pre-race favourites over the opening kilometre and sitting just outside the top ten at the midway point before fading on the second 5km of the run home.
Sissons meanwhile was taking a steady approach on the run and while he dropped back early the Aucklander was able to pick off many of those athletes on the run home, improving 11 places from the halfway point.
The result leaves Sissons at 13th on the overall World Rankings, with the New Zealanders now moving on to their base in Europe to prepare for Hamburg WTS and then on to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games at the end of July.
Results: ITU World Triathlon, Chicago
Elite Men
1. Javier Gomez (Spain) 1:47:21
2. Joao Pereira (Portugal) 1:47:29
3. Mario Mola (Spain) 1:47:40
plus NZers
16. Ryan Sissons 1:49:22
28. Tony Dodds 1:50:32
DNF Tom Davison
