A kilometre of hell to make world cup podium

Tayler Reid

GISBORNE'S Tayler Reid had to dig deep into his reserves of energy before clinching his first ITU World Cup elite podium finish.

The 20-year-old, produced his best-ever Olympic distance race to place third in Karlov Vary, Czech Republic, and enhance his chances of being selected for the New Zealand team to compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“I didn’t give my dad a Father’s Day present, so here you are, Dad,” he said after the race.

Reid’s time for the 1500-metre swim, 40-kilometre cycle and 10km run was one hour 50 minutes 22 seconds.

“I was fourth with 2km of the run to go and thought, ‘I really want this bad’, so I kept pushing,” Reid said.

“Everyone hates fourth; it’s the worst position ever.”

Reid passed Slovakian and four-time world aquathlon champion Richard Varga — the fastest swimmer of the 64 triathletes competing and who trains with star British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlie.

“The last kilometre was hell but I’m so happy all the hard work has paid off.”

Reid followed Varga out of the swim at the head of the field and the pair were part of a group of five riders who went clear on the five-lap bike course before the chasing group closed the deficit to 30 seconds by the transition.

As the strongest runners came through, including eventual winner Gustav Iden (1:49.06), of Norway, and Italy’s Alessandro Fabian (second in 1:49.39), Reid found himself back in fourth.

But he showed great determination and dug deep to make up a place and claim bronze — an effort that delighted his Gisborne-based coach Stephen Sheldrake.

“The most pleasing thing for me, apart from making it on to the podium, was the fact that he had raced smart,” said Sheldrake.

“He’s always been strong in the swim and on the bike, but at this level it’s all about going into the run in good shape. In the past that’s not always been the case with Tayler. He’s come out of the water and the bike stuffed.

“It’s been a work in progress but I couldn’t be happier . . . it’s definitely his best-ever performance.

“It’s a good payday (NZ$6300), although that’s not what we race for, and he picks up good points.”

Reid’s third moved him up eight places on the ITU world series rankings to 52nd. Spaniard Mario Mola leads, with Ryan Sissons (seventh) the best of the New Zealanders.

Spain-based Reid’s attention now turns to the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Rotterdam on September 16 (NZ time) at which he will compete in the under-23 men’s race.

This will be followed by an ITU world cup sprint race in South Korea in October.

“Tayler will take a lot of confidence from this result,” Sheldrake said.

“But he needs to look after himself over the next couple of weeks — get his recovery right, eat right, get plenty of rest and look after his body.”