6 Apr 2013

Gomez remains unbeatable in New Zealand

3:09 pm on 6 April 2013

The Spanish Olympic silver medallist Javier Gomez has won the Auckland ITU triathlon World Cup race in a dominant display from compatriot Mario Mola.

Gomez took the lead on the first lap of the final run leg and extended it in an impressive sub-30 minute effort over the 10 kilometre run to maintain his unbeaten record in New Zealand.

In four starts including last year's World Series Grand Final, Gomez has won every time.

Portugal's Joao Silva was third and Frenchman Laurent Vidal - the coach and partner of Christchurch world women's No.3 Andrea Hewitt - was fourth.

Tony Dodds was the first New Zealander home in seventh place - the Wanaka local was third early on the run before he had to serve a 15-second time penalty for a transition violation heading into the bike leg.

Clark Ellice was 11th while Ryan Sissons finished 14th after coming out of the water near the front, but the New Zealand No.1 lost his chain early on the bike leg and had to cycle furiously by himself at the back before he caught up with the lead group - but that expended all Sissons' energy.