Javier Gomez crowned ITU World Champ

The 2013 series started in bright sunshine in Auckland in April and was decided at the death in front of tens of thousands in a soggy Hyde Park. For Britain there would be no repeat of the previous day’s World Champion title for Non Stanford, as Spain’s Javier Gomez edged out Jonny Brownlee in the final seconds of a race that’ll go down in World Series folklore. Mario Mola made it an Iberian day to remember by taking bronze, with Alistair Brownlee – far from full-fitness – hobbling to a still-heroic 52^nd.

The race began with everything to play for, with the Brownlees and Gomez all vying for the overall 2013 World Series title, as well as Hyde Park honours. As with the 2012 Olympics, swim specialist and Brownlee training partner Richard Varga led from swim, with Australia’s Aaron Royle emboldening his burgeoning reputation by coming out second into T1. The favourites soon followed (Jonny was third out in 17:10mins, Ali fourth in 17:11) and a front pack of group of 13 formed at front.

Despite a short-lived Ali Brownlee breakaway, that group, with the Brownlees dictating the pace (and giving more than a choice word or two to the pack for not sharing the pacing duties) led into T2, with dangerous South African runner Richard Murray leading the chase group that included Spain’s Mola.

Onto the run and with the weather continuing to soak the packed grandstand, Gomez and Jonny pushed the pace to drop any chasers, with Ali Brownlee, clearly suffering with an ankle injury, dropping back through the field. It soon became a Galicia versus Yorkshire contest, with Gomez and Jonny playing a game of cat and mouse, testing each other’s resolve with intermittent increases in pace.

The tension increased as the duo battled throughout the third and final lap, with Alistair providing one of the Series’ most memorable moments by stopping at the side of the course to will Jonny forward. Jonny edged ahead as the pair entered the final straight, looking the favourite to retain his World Series crown from 2012. But Gomez pushed past Brownlee at the last (in a finish to rival the women’s 2012 Olympic race) to win the Hyde Park honours and his third ITU World Series crown. After playing second fiddle to the Brownlees for most of 2013, the Spaniard had scored the last laugh.

“It feels amazing to be world champion, I can’t really believe it,” said Gomez after his victory. “It probably wasn’t my day for running, I felt quite tired, so I was just working hard on the sprint, on the last kick. It’s amazing to be champion, I’m so happy.”

Keep an eye on the website later today for video interviews with the top three men in the world.

Results

1.5km swim | 40km bike | 10km run

1 Javier Gomez, ESP 1:48:16

2 Jonathan Brownlee, GBR 1:48:17

3 Mario Mola, ESP 1:49:10

4 Dmitry Polyanskiy, RUS 1:49:21

5 Vincent Luis, FRA 1:49:24

Brit Results

23 Matthew Sharp 1:50:26

25 David Mcnamee 1:50:33

26 Aaron Harris 1:50:34

52 Alistair Brownlee 1:55:03

54 Adam Bowden 1:55:16

58 Mark Buckingham 1:57:16

59 Phil Wolfe 2:00:22

2013 Overall WTS Standings

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

Brit Overall Standings

16 David Mcnamee 1677

24 Adam Bowden 1072

28 Matthew Sharp 1037

43 Mark Buckingham 702

62 Aaron Harris 422

85 William Clarke 269

101 Stuart Hayes 174

146 David Bishop 40

PHOTO CREDIT: British Triathlon