Alistair Brownlee wins Hyde Park Triathlon with brother Jonathan in third place
Last updated 8/14/2011 11:44:42 AM
Alistair Brownlee wins Hyde Park Triathlon with Jonathan in third place
Alistair Brownlee owed a huge debt of thanks to his brother Jonathan as he raced home to win the Hyde Park triathlon ahead of a world class field.
Alistair was never out of the top ten as he swam the Serpentine, roared to the front on the bike ride round Hyde Park and then ran away from his rivals to win at a walk, shaking the hands of well wishers as he strolled to the finish line.
There he waited for younger brother Jonathan who sacrificed his own chances by holding back the pack on the bike ride before surging for home and finishing on the podium in third place.
Both Brownlee brothers have now met all the criteria laid down to compete over the same course next year for the Olympic title.
It would have been a Brownlee, British one, two but for the big brave Russian Alexander Bryukhankov who defied the odds to haul his big, muscular frame home in second place 25 seconds behind the winner.
It made it a spectacular double for Britain with the 27 year old Welsh girl Helen Jenkins also picking up her passport for London 2012 by winning the ladies event 24 hours earlier.
Hyde Park formed one of triathlon's seven-leg World Championship Series, with the finale in Beijing next month and with five of the seven races complete the current world standings are: -
1. Javier Gomez (Spa, 2660)
2. Alistair Brownlee (GB, 2490)
3. Alexander Bryukhankov (Rus, 2403)
4. Sven Riederer (Swi, 2196)
5. Jonathan Brownlee (GB, 2165)
Following his earlier wins in Madrid and Kitzbuhel, Alistair Brownlee has now won three of five legs so far this season, as well as the European title in Spain.
Prior to the race, Brownlee had claimed the course did not suit his style, suggesting a less flat terrain and tougher ride and run would fit him better, but his approach was faultless despite persistent heavy rain throughout the second half.
"To be honest I couldn't believe I got away on the bike," said Brownlee. "I was worried I would be attacked."
Helen Jenkins broke clear of the pack in style to win the women's Hyde Park triathlon and meet GB's selection criteria for the 2012 Olympics on Saturday.
She struck out for the front as the running finale began and finished seven seconds clear of second-placed American Gwen Jorgensen.
"That hurt so much. I just kept running and running," said Jenkins.
"Normally when you win you're like, 'Ah yeah, it's easy,' but that hurt."
This race served as the Olympic test event but, more importantly for the athletes, results here counted towards both this year's World Championship Series - a seven-race battle for the world title - and, for many nations, Olympic qualification.
Jenkins' gold medal, in a time of two hours and 34 seconds, was her third successive Hyde Park podium finish and her first-ever World Championship Series win.
The current placings after five events are: -
1. Barbara Riveros Diaz (Chi, 2498)
2. Andrea Hewitt (NZ, 2493)
3. Paula Findlay (Can, 2490)
4. Helen Jenkins (GB, 2346)
5. Emma Moffatt (Aus, 2061)
"Normally when you win you're like, 'Ah yeah, it's easy,' but that hurt," said the winner afterwards.
"I didn't feel great on the swim, and on the bike I just tried to follow my British team-mate Kerry Lang and stay safe.
"The run hurt, but I was at the front so I kept running and running. Someone said I had a gap so I thought I'd better keep pushing on - I kept pushing right to the end."
The result, in conjunction with her second-place finish in Kitzbuhel earlier this year, ensures she meets British Triathlon's selection criteria for the Games.
While that does not guarantee her selection next year, as others may yet qualify alongside her and force the selectors to choose between them, it moves Jenkins - who finished 21st at the Beijing Games in 2008 - closer to her second Olympic appearance.
Jodie Stimpson, who kept up with Jenkins for a time, led the other members of the British contingent over the finish line in 14th place. Vicky Holland crossed the line in 17th, Non Stanford was 38th and Kerry Lang came 51st.