Gemmell and Hewitt show great form in France

Beijing bound triathlete Kris Gemmell proved too strong amongst a quality field of Olympic athletes when winning the third round of the French Grand Prix season in Beauvais.

The result is further good news for the New Zealand team following on from Debbie Tanner’s impressive podium finish at the ITU World Cup in Hamburg yesterday.

Gemmell is delighted with his form.

Today was a good day all round and a good stepping stone towards Beijing. The swim went well and I emerged into the first group on the bike. There were a lot of attacks on the bike which is always the way it goes in the French races. The attacks kept coming throughout and hurt a few boys I think.

“I hit the run in good shape and just tried to be in control but always at the front, managing the race. It wasn’t long before I broke away with 2006 world champion Tim Don, we held a small advantage for most of the distance before I pulled away from him and to the line.

Gemmell says the race panned out perfectly given where he is at in preparation for Beijing.

“This is exactly what I was after at the moment. I always lack speed coming from altitude and we have really tried to work on that this year and I had speed to burn today. It’s back up to altitude for me again for another 2 weeks until my next race the World Cup in Kitzbuhel (Austria).”

Fellow Kiwi and also a member of the team for the Olympic Games Andrea Hewitt finished a strong second in the women’s event, awarded the same time as the winner after crossing the line hand in hand with French club team mate Holie Avil (GBR). Like Gemmell, Hewitt looks to be timing her work nicely towards Beijing.

French Grand Prix, Beauvais

Elite Women

1 Holie Avil (Beauvais) 1h01’33

2 Andrea Hewitt (Beauvais) 1h01’33

3 Erin Densham (Poissy) 1h02’15

Elite Men

1 Kris Gemmell (Beauvais) 55'10

2 Alistair Brownlee (Sartrouville) 55'11

3 Tim Don (Beauvais) 55'14

4 Will Clarke (Lagardère Paris Racing) 55'15

5 Tony Moulai (Poissy) 55'28