Docherty, Gemmell Set To Kick Off Season In Takapuna
New Zealand's top two Olympic-distance triathletes, Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell, are set to face off at Sunday's Takapuna Triathlon in New Zealand.
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New Zealand’s top two Olympic-distance triathletes, Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell, are set to face off at Sunday’s Takapuna Triathlon in New Zealand.
The two have rarely gone to go head to head on home soil.
And when they have made the start line together, events have sometimes conspired to keep them apart by the midway point in the race.
In New Plymouth three years ago Gemmell crashed heavily on the bike, and at Takapuna last year Docherty’s bike punctured leaving Gemmell to claim victory.
Docherty will be returning from his American base in Santa Cruz, Calif. while Gemmell heads up from Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Both are using the event to kickstart their 2011 campaigns which are targeted at next year’s London Olympics.
“I don’t race in New Zealand much so it will be nice to have a good race, but as per every event this year the main goal is London, so this is a stepping stone and my first race of the season,” Docherty said. “I think it will be a shock to the body but Takapuna is always a good one to kick off season and to race back home will be a lot of fun.”