Truth or consequences: A group of athletes seen during their 2012 GoPro Hero Da Nang Triathlon at My Khe Beach on Saturday. Canadian Todd Gilmore wins the tournament, finishing the 40km bike and 10km marathon after 1hr 50min. — VNS Photo Hoai Nam

DA NANG — Canada's Todd Gilmore was the first man to touch the finish line in the 2012 GoPro Hero Da Nang Triathlon at My Khe Beach – beating off tough rivals during the 40km bike and 10km marathon.

He started Saturday's biking event at 7.30am and finished the 10km marathon at 9.20am.

"The weather was quite cool for the competition. I felt a bit tired during the closing kilometres of the marathon when it got hotter," Todd said after the race.

"I've raced in triathlon competitions in Australia, Thailand and the US, while this is my second triathlon in Viet Nam. My first was the triathlon in Mui Ne resort in Phan Thiet City and I always train hard for them," he told Viet Nam News.

The Canadian said he hoped to raise money for impoverished Vietnamese children who cannot afford heart surgery.

"I felt tired when I was running up to the finish, but I saw the sky building and I thought about the heart-disease children and it inspired me to keep on running."

Todd has lived in HCM City for seven years and works as an engineer for the British Premier Oil company.

Hot on the heels of Todd was Rudy Van Bork from the Netherlands, who finished second.

"Todd was a tough rival. I felt nothing after 40km biking, but 10km marathon made me exhausted," Rudy said.

"I'm strong at swimming and cycling as I often train in Hoi An. It rained a little in the morning to help me save time in cycling. However, it got hotter during the 10km marathon."

Earlier, high winds had caused big waves, leading the organising committee to dropping the 1.5km swimming event.

In the team event, Hyatt Regency Hotel won the trophy while Victoria Hoi An came second.

The race drew 90 foreign residents, as well as 300 students and children. The next race will be held at Laguna Lang Co in central Thua Thien-HueProvince. — VNS