After seven rounds of the ITU World Triathlon Series and an hour and three quarters of racing around Hyde Park, the 2013 ITU World Championship was decided by a sprint finish between Jonathan Brownlee and Javier Gomez. The Spaniard claimed victory and the world title by a single second.
It appeared to be business as usual with Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee swimming near the front of the race and getting into a small breakaway pack on the bike alongside Javier Gomez. However, as soon as the athletes reached the second transition and started to run it was clear that Alistair Brownlee, the Olympic Champion, was injured.
Alistair Brownlee was slower out of transition than Jonathan, who was aiming to defend the world title he won in New Zealand last year. He maintained fifth position for just over a lap until slowing to a jog and even stopping to shout encouragement to Jonathan on the opposite side of the road.
Jonathan and Gomez raced side by side until they reached the finishing stretch. Brownlee made the first move but Gomez was stronger today and passed him within the final few metres.
Jonathan Brownlee said: “I’m gutted to be honest. I wanted to win, especially here in London after last year. I was pleased with bronze last year but I wanted to win here.
“I was so close, it’s hard. You ask yourself what you could have done differently. Second in the world isn’t too bad but I wanted to win.”
Commenting on what Alistair had said to him on the course he added: “He told me to use my head, because it’s windy don’t run on the front too much.”
Commenting on his close rivals, the Brownlees, Javier Gomez commented: “They are probably the best triathletes I have ever seen and I know how hard it is to beat them at home. Jonathan probably started sprinting a little too early and I had a little bit left so it was perfect.”
Alistair Brownlee finished in 52nd place, still good enough for fourth place overall in the ITU World Triathlon Series.
He said: “It was hit and miss whether I was going to be all right. I wanted to give myself at least a chance to race. I knew I didn’t want to be sitting there today watching the race thinking maybe I would have been alright, I should have done it – I had to start.”
British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell summed up Britain’s performances at the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London: “As a programme we have depth at junior level and some of those athletes are already stepping up at senior level.
“The seniors are winning medals and we’re leading the world at paratriathlon. This means we’re doing things right, but there is still more we can do, and that challenge is exciting.”
Results
1. Javier Gomez, ESP, 1:48:16
2. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR, 1:48:17
3. Mario Mola, ESP, 1:49:10
23. Matthew Sharp, GBR, 1:50:26
25. David McNamee, GBR, 1:50:33
26. Aaron Harris, GBR, 1:50:34
52. Alistair Brownlee, GBR, 1:55:03
54. Adam Bowden, GBR, 1:55:16
58. Mark Buckingham, GBR, 1:57:16
59. Phil Wolfe, GBR, 2:00:22
Overall World Triathlon Series Rankings
1. Javier Gomez, ESP, 4220
2. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR, 4195
3. Mario Mola, ESP, 3726
4. Alistair Brownlee, GBR, 3140
5. Richard Murray, RSA, 2937
6. Joao Silva, POR, 2795
7. Laurent Vidal, FRA, 2680
8. Sven Riederer, SUI, 2494
9. Dmitry Polyanskiy, RUS, 2407
10. Vincent Luis, FRA, 2243
