Bishop soars to first ever ITU World Series podium

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Tom Bishop achieved his best ever ITU World Triathlon Series result, running stride-for-stride with multiple world champion, Javier Gomez (ESP) until the final stages of the race in Abu Dhabi. His silver medal is his best ever result at senior level.

The Leeds based 25 year-old, who comes from Derby, is known for his strong cycling skills. Today he put together the complete race, breaking away with Gomez and sticking with him for more than seven of the ten kilometer run.

I can’t quite believe it to be honest. I had a feeling it might well come together.

Gomez looked dominant in the final stages, and happy to be back to winning ways after a broken elbow put him out of the Olympic Games last year.

 

He said: “With Tom, it was very tactical. The third lap we slowed down a lot and I was trying to save energy for the last lap and I made my move with about 3k to go and it worked well.”

 

Commenting on Bishop’s performance, he added: “I was surprised. He was really strong on the bike. He always is. He ran very well. I have to congratulate him because he had an amazing run and I maybe doubted a little bit how strong he was.”

 

Bishop was rightfully pleased, commenting: “I can’t quite believe it to be honest. I had a feeling it might well come together.

 

“I got into the run and my back was pretty sore so I had to warm myself into it but luckily I had Gomez to pace me through, and he’s is a good carrot to follow and hang on to as long as I could, and that dragged me into second.”

 

Bishop is the first British man, other than the Brownlee brothers, to get on to an ITU World Triathlon Series podium since 2011. He said: “Jonny and Alistair have set the bar for the British team, alongside the women, obviously. I look to those guys and that’s the pinnacle of our sport, in the world and not just in Britain, and if I can get anywhere near them I know I am doing a good job.”

 

Stirling based Marc Austin put in a solid race after a year of injury, finishing 14th. Adam Bowden finish 20th.

 

British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell, was impressed with the first race of the season, he said: “Tom Bishop put in some good results at the end of last season and I think he found some belief today. That’s an awesome result, and Jodie’s result yesterday was excellent, too.”

 

ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi; 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run; RESULTS:

1. Javier Gomez Noya, ESP, 1:52:31
2. Thomas Bishop, GBR, 1:52:45       
3. Vincent Luis, FRA, 1:53:08
14. Marc Austin, GBR, 1:55:56
20. Adam Bowden, GBR, 1:57:15

Full results: http://www.triathlon.org/results/result/2017_itu_world_triathlon_abu_dhabi/307158

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