Two months away from the defence of his Olympic triathlon title, Alistair Brownlee resurrected his candidacy in emphatic fashion in Leeds yesterday with the most timely of victories in the city’s first-ever World Series leg.
For much of the 12 months since his previous triumph on the circuit, the Yorkshireman has appeared to spend more time nursing injury than exerting pressure upon his cluster of challengers. Restored to ruder health than even he had expected, the 28-year-old overtook his younger brother Jonathan early on the final run leg and eventually built a 32-second margin over his sibling to win in 1:49:27 with Spain’s world champion Javier Gomez fourth and Northern Irish newcomer Russell White eleventh.
Suddenly, an Olympic repeat seems possible rather than a distant hope. “I have said that the Olympics was the best race I have ever raced in, but now I think that just beat it,” Brownlee said. “The run was absolutely phenomenal, by far the best World Series there has ever been.
“I wasn’t fit enough to have a race like that. I had great legs for the first couple laps of the run, I could not believe that I was feeling good, it was the best I have run in months.”
The USA’s Gwen Jorgensen came from 14 seconds down at the close of the bike stage to win the women’s race ahead of Bermudan Flora Duffy with Vicky Holland heading the home contingent in third place, one spot ahead of British team-mate Jodie Stimpson.
“It was no surprise to me that some people were going to go for it, especially Flora,” Jorgensen, the twice world champion said. “I knew she was going to go for it on the bike and get as much time as she could. Rio is the focus for the year as you know, so it is great to come into these races and get exposed a little bit and see where I can improve.”
Elsewhere, Stirling-based prospect Doug Roberts had a breakthrough performance with second place at the ETU Cup in Weert.
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