Multisports: World champs remind Docherty of Athens

Bevan Docherty has boldly declared the world championships in Switzerland this weekend carry all the hallmarks of New Zealand's greatest triathlon race.

Docherty can't fault his own buildup and that of teammate Hamish Carter for Sunday night's (NZ time) elite men's race in Lausanne, comparing it to their preparation ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympics.

At Athens he ran a close second to compatriot Hamish Carter in a spectacular one-two result.

With the course this weekend similar to the challenging Athens layout, a confident Docherty said all the signs were good.

"I'd have to say that Hamish and I are in similar shape to what we were before Athens," Docherty told NZPA from Lausanne.

"There could quite possibly be a repeat of Athens but in this sport there's so many different elements to the racing and you need a little bit of luck to do well in a race like this."

The pair have had several training sessions together in the south of France, just as they did before Athens.

And the bold pre-race comments mirror the confidence they showed in the leadup two years ago.

Carter has yet to commit to his future beyond this weekend, with Docherty saying the veteran looked "super fit" ahead of what could his final international race.

The hilly Athens course was one key reason for New Zealand's Olympic triumph and Docherty said this weekend's rolling layout was much preferable to the flat world championships course used at Gamagori in Japan last year.

The 40km bike leg will feature 14 climbs -- two on each of the seven laps.

"It's probably not as demanding as Athens but it's a lot tougher than most courses," Docherty said.

"It will suit us and take a lot of the sting out of the specialist runners' legs, the likes of Brad Kahlefeldt."

Australian Kahlefeldt is the slickest runner in the field and showed it when he surged clear of Docherty at this year's Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Third in Melbourne was Australian Peter Robertson, another major threat this weekend, the defending champion chasing his fourth world title.

Docherty, the 2004 world champion, was boosted by a dominant win in the European Cup race at Switzerland last week.

"I'd been feeling pretty average for the previous six weeks but I just broke through and I'm starting to reach a good peak again," he said.

Team tactics on the bike could yet play a role although Docherty said such methods had not been discussed.

"As far as teamwork goes, people have tried it in the past and never really pulled it off," he said.

"To be honest, your teammates are often your biggest competition. That's the case for me with Hamish Carter and Kris Gemmell there.

"At the end of the day you have to look after number one."

While most of the New Zealand men were in Lausanne, the leading women were leaving their arrival until late as they completed their buildup at altitude in France.

Sam Warriner, Andrea Hewitt and Debbie Tanner have all had their moments in World Cup races this year and were second, third and fourth respectively behind Australian Emma Snowsill at the Commonwealth Games.

Snowsill looms large this weekend, having won six of her seven races this year, but the testing course could yet assist the New Zealand trio.

At a sweltering Gamagori last year Hewitt produced New Zealand's best result when she won the under-23 gold medal.

Warriner was best in the elite class but was disappointed with her 16th placing.

Carter was the leading man in fourth place while an under-par Docherty failed to finish.

New Zealand will field 118 athletes across the 12 different age group categories on Saturday and Sunday.

The most decorated among them is Canterbury's John Hellemans, chasing his eighth world championship title, in the 50-54 years category.

New Zealand elite team:

Men: Hamish Carter, Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Shane Reed, Clarke Ellice, Terenzo Bozzone

Women: Sam Warriner, Debbie Tanner, Andrea Hewitt, Evelyn Williamson, Carmel Hanley, Taryn McLeod.

- NZPA