Alistair Brownlee delighted the home crowd at the Vitality World Triathlon London on a dramatic day at the London 2012 Olympic venue. Brownlee won gold, Vicky Holland was fifth, but there was disappointment for Jonathan Brownlee, who suffered a puncture before he even started the bike leg.
Exiting the 750m swim in Hyde Park’s Serpentine, both Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee were in leading positions ready for the 20km bike section. However, Jonathan continued running with his bike well past the transition area whilst the other competitors leapt onto their bikes.
Heading for the service area, Jonathan had to change his wheel and start the race with Alistair and the race leaders 90-seconds up the road.
Alistair rode aggressively and then used the early part of the 5km run to compose himself before making a break after around 1,500m. He ran supremely, delighting the huge crowds.
He said: “It did feel really good to win over sprint distance. The crowd was fantastic as always, I have raced here seven times now and it’s been great. The Olympics was the highlight, but it’s always good to come back, and on the same note it was a nice way to finish off the Hyde Park legacy.”
Next year the event moves to Leeds, ending the Olympic legacy in Hyde Park, but moving to a city that is already hugely excited by the prospect of seeing it’s Olympic stars racing at home.
Jonathan Brownlee finished 42nd, unable to make up the time lost at the start.
He said: “As soon as I got on the bike I knew I was in trouble, even the wheel stop is at the bottom of a hill and it’s really hard to get going.”
He added: “The crowd were amazing. I was pretty close to giving up, if it hadn’t been for them. Every time I came through they were cheering me, they kept me going, but there was nothing I could have done.”
Vicky Holland, a winner in Cape Town last month, was not far off the podium in the women’s race, finishing fifth. The race was dominated by the ITU World Champion, Gwen Jorgensen and USA teammates Sarah True and Katie Zaferes who finished first, second and third respectively. Jorgensen recorded her tenth straight ITU World Triathlon Series victory.
Making up a gap after the swim and bike, Holland ran through some of the early leaders, including Sophie Coldwell, who marked her Series debut with stunning swim and bike legs.
Holland said: “Fifth is a really solid result, I can’t complain too much with that. Coming off the bike I just knew I had to run hard. My legs were a little bit numb but I just went for it and held on.”
Coldwell finished 27th and said: “I got stuck in and went hard from the start. The run is my weakest discipline, but I wanted to give it a go.”
Non Stanford was disappointed with her race, finishing 35th, but she and the rest of the team now has a break until the next round of the Series in Hamburg, 18-19 July.
Results, Vitality World Triathlon London: 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
Men:
1. Alistair Brownlee, GBR, 50:39
2. Fernando Alarza, ESP, 50:51
3. Vincent Luis, FRA, 50:57
20. Adam Bowden, GBR, 51:32
38. Grant Sheldon, GBR, 52:12
42. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR, 52:29
Women:
1. Gwen Jorgensen, USA, 55:45
2. Katie Zaferes, USA, 56:06
3. Sarah True, USA, 56:07
5. Vicky Holland, GBR, 56:28
27. Sophie Coldwell, GBR, 57:30
35. Non Stanford, GBR, 57:59
47. Emma Pallant, GBR, 58:59
