Just a week after his dominant performance at the World Cup in Mooloolaba, Australia [Link], the Spaniard Mario Mola also prevailed in New Zealand. In New Plymouth he won the sprint against reigning world champion Javiér Gomez.
This time it didn't look like the Spaniard would win from the start. After the swim, like Gomez, he was still behind. On the bike, however, they managed to catch up with the leaders shortly before switching to running. Here both eventually pulled away from the competition, with Mola dominating the race from the front until the end.
American Katie Hursey won the women's event. The 24-year-old celebrated her first win of the season in New Zealand. Second place went to Andrea Hewitt, third place to Jodie Stimpson.
result men
1.Mario Mola (Spain) 52:30
2. Javier Gomez (Spain) 52:33
3.Joao Silva (Portugal) 52:56
4. Fernando Alarza (Spain) 53:03
5. Brendan Sexton (Australia) 53:08
result women
1.Katie Hursey (USA) 57:27
2. Andrea Hewitt (New Zealand) 57:38
3. Jodie Stimson (Great Britain) 57:39
4. Helen Jenkins (Great Britain) 57:54
5. Kirsten Sweetland (Canada) 58:02