Kiwis chase Olympic ranking points at World Cup Triathlon

New Zealand triathletes Ryan Sissons and James Elvery compete in the final ITU World Cup Triathlon of the season this weekend and both have an eye on London 2012.

With vital Olympic ranking points on the line after a poor season for the Kiwi men by their own high standards, Sissons knows it is vital for both his own ranking and that of his country that he races well in Tongyeong.

“I’m looking forward to my last race of the season over here in Tongyeong, Korea in the final World Cup event for the ITU season. I know it’s going to be a difficult race with what looks like a wetsuit swim, a bit of a hilly bike course and flat run which could work well in my favour.”

The young Aucklander was last seen at the World Champs where he picked up a silver medal in the elite U23 category but given the desire for New Zealand to pick up Olympic ranking points, he decided to race once more.

“It was a decision made after world champs to get right back into the training, mainly just trying to maintain fitness in order to come over here to hopefully secure some much needed Olympic points for NZ, as well as trying improve my world ranking in order to ensure I am in a good position leading into next years early races.

“I am feeling reasonably good, and I know I am still super fit, it’s just going to be a matter of seeing if I can fire on the day. I haven’t been doing anything too hard since I’ve been back in NZ, so this will be the first bit of intensity and I suppose we will see how the body copes!

“I’m running well, biking has been solid and hopefully I have held onto the swim work I have been doing while overseas the last 5 months. Let’s just say it’s going to be an interesting race. I am aiming for a top 10 finish, which would be a really nice finish to the seasons racing and of course backing up a solid performance after the Worlds.”