New Zealand’s Olympic Games triathlete Nicole van der Kaay was “over the moon’’ to clinch a silver medal in her first World Triathlon Championship Series podium finish in Germany on Saturday (Sunday NZ time).

The 25-year-old finished four seconds behind hometown champion Laura Lindemann in Hamburg.

Van der Kaay could not contain her delight after crossing the line.

“I don't really have any words for it,’’ she said in a video interview. “I didn't know what to expect from this race. I’ve never been on the podium ... , so I"m over the moon, really.’’

Bronze medallist Summer Rappaport, led the field after the 750m swim at Alter reservoir, with Lindemann holding third place.

By the end of the bike leg, van der Kaay had steadily improved to be in the lead group with Lindeman, Rappoport and Hungary’s Zsanett Bragmayer.

Van der Kaay, who finished 29th at the Tokyo Olympics, said it was “a surprise for me to be up front, but I knew my running was in good form. I knew I was feeling good coming into this in peak form.’’

The Kiwi ran shoulder to shoulder with Lindemann and Rappaport, before the German, urged on by the crowd, produced a winning spurt about 300m from the line to finish in 58min 17seconds.

Van der Kaay was happy to clock 58min 21sec to snare silver, 5sec ahead of Rappaport.

“Coming into the end, I knew it would be tough. I’ve never actually been going for the podium, let alone the gold,’' she said.

“I gave it my all, and I came away with second, so I’m very happy.’’

Lindemann, the new series leader, said on www.triathlon.org that she was delighted with her first ever series victory after silver and bronze medals in previous Hamburg races.

“I am so happy, I just can’t believe it. This was the perfect race for me”, the 25-year-old said. “My swim was good, the bike was good and during the run I just felt really good. On the second lap of the run I just felt that I had the legs and just went for the best, and I made it”.

Van der Kaay, who grew up in Taupo, is ranked 50th in the world and 25th in the World Triathlon Championship series.

She was part of New Zealand’s silver medal winning mixed team at a WTCS event in Montreal in August.

Credit:Stuff.co.nz