Spain’s Mario Mola finished second in the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final race and secured more than enough points to win the world title for the third year in a row. There was drama for the British team, including a disqualification for Alistair Brownlee.
Mola only needed to finish 14thor better to win the title, but, of course, did everything he could to win the race. Vincent Luis (FRA) got the better of him on the 10km run and won the Grand Final race for a second year in a row.
Mola said: “You always want to try your best and today it really worked out well. It’s hard to believe, I could never imagine winning one world title and now I have three.”
Jonathan Brownlee had hoped to find some better run form than he has done this season, but had to settle for eighth place after doing everything right on the swim, bike and early stages of the run.
He said: “It’s not quite there, I’m not sure why. I didn’t quite have it today. I’d like to be fighting for the podium, not seventh and eighth place.”
Alistair Brownlee started his first and only Series race of the year after missing his home race in Leeds through injury. He came to the Gold Coast having finished second two weeks ago in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in South Africa and there was hope of him making an impact on the race.
However, the choppy swim conditions and the number of athletes reaching the first turn buoy at the same time had the greatest impact. Brownlee didn’t complete the swim around the buoy and was disqualified, commenting afterwards that he was ‘disoriented after being hit and held under the water.’ He did complete the race, and now goes on to the Beijing International Triathlon, along with Jonathan and several other Brits, next weekend.
Tom Bishop had a great swim, and had moments of attacking off the front on the bike, but dropped back to 23rdat the finish.
RESULTS; ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast; 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run:
1. Vincent Luis, FRA, 1:44:34
2. Mario Mola, ESP, 1:44:48
3. Richard Murray, RSA, 1:44:56
8. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR, 1:45:51
23. Thomas Bishop, GBR, 1:47:16
Full Results
Final Series Rankings:
1. Mario Mola, ESP, 6081 – ITU World Champion
2. Vincent Luis, FRA, 5060
3. Jacob Birtwhistle, AUS, 4884
11. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR, 2873
19. Thomas Bishop, GBR, 1884
Full rankings
