Berthelsen bullied on last ride

IF it was the Speight's Coast to Coas (no t), Tauranga's Anna Berthelsen would, in all probability, be basking in the afterglow of being crowned women's Longest Day world champion.
Unfortunately for Berthelsen, it's the Coast to Coast - a six-leg, 243km grind across the South Island. With a 70km road cycle in Christchurch to wrap things up.
The way she's feeling right now, petitioning race organiser Robin Judkins to cut the final bike leg out of the iconic multisport race might be Berthelsen's only shot at glory.
For the second time in three years, the 25-year-old marine scientist was cut down while leading the women's race, with her weakness on the final stretch into Christchurch's Sumner Beach a handicap her rivals were only too eager to exploit.
Two years ago, women's winner Emily Miazga and Finland's Elina Rautila chased her down after she'd opened up a big lead in the previous five stages.
On Saturday, Berthelsen emerged from the tortuous 33km mountain run in front but was overpowered by defending champion Fleur Pawsey on the kayak and rapidly slipped out of contention.
Miazga, who won the race in 2006, finished only 44 seconds ahead of Pawsey, who was herself only two minutes ahead of third-placed Rachel Cashin - believed to be the closest race in the Coast to Coast's 26-year history. Berthelsen was 17 minutes behind Miazga. Berthelsen, having taken a seven-minute lead on to the water, was reeled in by Pawsey in the last 500m of the 67km paddle down the Waimakariri River but her lack of experience, and training, on the road bike again meant she was easy pickings.
"I could see Fleur getting ahead on the bike, but when Emily and Rachel went past me way quicker, like I was standing still," the former Tauranga Girls College student said.
"There was nothing I could do - even if I was fresh I couldn't have gone much quicker than I was going. It's frustrating for me but I seem to ride at one pace, which isn't quick enough to protect a lead."
Berthelsen, one of the world's leading female adventure racers with top-ranked international team Orion Health, concedes until she dedicates some serious time to her cycling, it's likely she'll never threaten to win the Coast to Coast, at least while the women's field is so strong.
"I nailed the run, and the kayak was the best I'd ever done too, so the whole day besides that final ride was really awesome. I do some riding with the adventure racing, but it's mountainbiking and there's almost no crossover with flat road biking.
"If I want to do well here I know I need to go out and put in the hours."
Richard Ussher took out the Longest Day men's crown, finishing at a tide-lashed Sumner in a time of 11h 03m 54s, a convincing lead over last year's winner, Gordon Walker who came in at second in 11h 24m 01s.
Dick Brunton was third.
"My whole plan during the run was to take it really easy until Goat Pass then really try to hammer it out," Ussher said.
"If you're a good runner, not only can you run a good time but you get off a little fresher. It's down-time really."
"When you're in the lead you don't get any information at all, you can never really relax," said Ussher, who will re-set his sights on next month's Ironman New Zealand race in Taupo.
Walker, who beat his last year's Longest Day time by 15 minutes and 29 seconds, conceded that he was "beaten by a better man."
"Ussher is the best adventure racer in the world by a long shot, he's a hard man to beat.
"He eased away and was under control, he had a faultless race. I'm happy with my times but made a couple of mistakes in the paddle which were heartbreakers."