Kiwi triathlete James Elvery finished in the top 10 racing in Italy over the weekend.
Elvery was just 11 seconds behind the winner, finishing sixth at the 2011 Cremona ITU Sprint Triathlon European Cup.
Backing up from a 15th place finish at the Madrid World Championships the weekend before, the race was a good chance to have a hit out before heading into another intense training block.
Elvery was off to a good start, swimming with the lead pack and exiting the water in third place.
He was able to push the pace early on the bike to try and open some space between the leaders and chase pack. The course was very technical down narrow lanes with plenty of cobbles and potholes. A lead pack of around 20 athletes created a small buffer but were caught with around 5km to go, leaving a strong pack of around 40 coming into transition.
Elvery ran out at the front and led the first of three laps. He was joined by a pack of 10 or so for the second lap and was able to hold onto them. On the last lap he wasn't quite able to kick into high gear for the sprint finish.
He now gets a four week break from racing, heading up to France to train at altitude in Font Romeu ahead of Olympic qualifying in August.
Fellow Kiwi Martin van Barneveld was also in action in Italy, finishing 27th overall. After missing the lead swim pack and losing time on the bike, he put in the third fastest run time of the day but was too far back.
2011 Cremona ITU Sprint Triathlon European Cup
Results
Men
1. Daniel Hofer (ITA) 0:55:29
2. Daniel Unger (GER) 0:55:31
3. Todd Leckie (GBR) 0:55:33
4. Jamie Huggett (AUS) 0:55:36
5. Pierre Le Corre (FRA) 0:55:38
Also;
6. James Elvery (NZ) 0:55:40
27. Martin van Barneveld (NZ) 0:57:03
