Bevan Docherty. Photo / Getty Images
The cold and the Brownlees proved too good for the Kiwis at the final ITU world championships race in Beijing today with none of the men able to crack the top eight and with it secure a place at the London Olympics.
Beijing at this time of year is meant to be 28 degrees and humid, but this morning dawned cold and damp and it didn't improve much through the day with a number of athletes struggling to retain body heat on the demanding Beijing course.
The Brownlee brothers of Great Britain had no such problems, with older brother Alistair winning in impressive fashion after an 8km running duel with brother Jonathan before surging to win comfortably. Sven Reiderer from Switzerland overtook a tiring Jonathan for second in sight of the finish line.
Ryan Sissons was the best of the Kiwis in 14th, a continuation for a strong season by the 23-year-old as his day went largely to plan but Bevan Docherty finished a disappointing 18th and with his Olympic dreams under threat.
"For a summer sport, we've certainly had some bad luck with the weather,'' the two-time Olympic medallist said. "It's a little bit frustrating, I felt good on the bike, the only problem was on the downhill I was freezing up. I pushed it on the uphill to try and keep warm but as soon as I got out on to the run I just couldn't feel my body and couldn't get into a decent rhythm. It's frustrating, but what can you do?
"Obviously it sucks that we all have to go for the spots in Sydney next year. It would be great to have them all wrapped up and focus on what is at hand. But what can you do? We haven't achieved it. It is frustrating and we just have to keep plugging away.''
Docherty hasn't given up on a place in London, though, but he was not only thinking of himself but also the team in the hope of qualifying three spots for New Zealand as one of the top-eight nations in the rankings.
"I still have a few races,'' he said. "It is too early in the season to pull the pin now, so try and get some points and hopefully qualify that third spot for the team, to help out the team. I just want to finish the season on a high. I have another race in Yokohama this weekend, hopefully it is a little warmer there and I can have a decent result.''
Kris Gemmell perhaps suffered more than most with the cold. Despite working hard and featuring near the front throughout the bike, the Palmerston North triathlete knew he was in trouble.
"I have never been so cold,'' he said. "We would work hard in a group on the bike but then lose any gains on the downhill but I was struggling to feel my feet and couldn't find any rhythm on the run.''
James Elvery withdrew early on the bike after emerging from the water in the lead group. Elvery awoke this morning suffering from diarrhoea and a fever and grew steadily worse during the race before having to call it a day. Clark Ellice was another to withdraw while Martin Van Barneveld finished down the field.