Triathlon: Rhodes' strong dash seals injury return

Ironman triathlete Bryan Rhodes secured an emotional victory at the Timaru leg of the national triathlon series yesterday, marking his return to the sport by defending his title in his first full triathlon after suffering a snapped Achilles tendon last August.

Janine Simpson took a leaf out of Rhodes' book as she took the top step of the podium in the women's division on her return from serious injury.

Conditions for the swim were near perfect on the water, although the 14C water temperature was perhaps cooler than most expected at this time of the year.

Top-seed Rhodes led the athletes into transition out of the water, but had a posse of company with Wellington teenager Cameron Goldsmid, Christchurch's Harrison Dean and Whangarei's Lee Greer in close attendance as the lead bunch headed away on the tough 40km ride.

Rhodes soon had the field struggling, though, as the Christchurch-based triathlete put his foot down to establish a four-and-a-half-minute lead off the bike.

That lead was quickly cut on the run as Dean and Goldsmid closed fast on a tiring Rhodes, cutting the gap from three and a half minutes to one with a lap to go.

But Rhodes timed his day perfectly, holding on for an emotional win in memory of his good training mate, Chris McAteer, who died just over a year ago.

"That was so hard out there, there were some sections on the bike that were just asking for someone to come off in the wet conditions and, man, I was pushing it," Rhodes said. "I kept a steady rhythm off the bike but knew I had some young guns chasing me hard so I couldn't let up.

"The last lap on the run was hard, eh, but there was no way I was going to let this one slip.

"Today is so special for me, though, because it is not about me, this is about my mate Chris and his family," he said after accepting the trophy named after McAteer.

"There are times when you need to put something back in the sport and today is certainly that, a chance to race and win in his memory.

"I'm delighted to be taking the cup home again and keep it safe for another year."

Simpson (nee Sax) was on the road to recovery after a year out of the sport, also because of a troublesome Achilles tendon injury. She came out of the water first but had Laura Smit on her heels heading out on to the bike.

Simpson proved too strong from that point, establishing a 2m 50s lead heading into the run and comfortably won her first win in the series after consecutive fourth-place results this season.

"Wow, this feels quite good - the swim was interesting; through some seaweed and the cold water, but [on] the bike I just went hard and on the run as well. So yeah, it was great," Simpson said. "I've had almost a year out off weight-bearing activity.

"A year ago I couldn't walk for a minute without the Achilles blowing up so this feels fantastic."

Simpson won over Smit, of Christchurch, with Emma Meyer, also of Christchurch, in third.

- NZPA