Alistair and Johnny Brownlee are at it again as the triathlon heads for London
Last updated 6/28/2011 11:43:35 AM
Alistair and Johnny Brownlee are at it again as the triathlon heads for London
Not even a puncture could stop Alistair Brownlee storming to another European triathlon title in Spain at the weekend.
If you are looking for a really hot ticket for the London Olympics with high home chances of the top medal , then look no further than the exacting swimming, cycling and running event which sorts out the men from the boys if not from the brothers.
For Great Britain have not one but two chances of medals come London next year as in second place to Yorkshire's Alistair was his younger brother Jonny, now both established as two of the best in the world at this tricky event.
Just how tricky was shown when the 23 year old Alistair suffered a puncture only for brotherly love to come to his rescue as Jonny, two years his junior, and the other Brits got to the head of the field, slowed it down and allowed the title leader to catch up.
Alistair, like a true champion and with no thought for his self sacrificing brother, then ran away from the field to record yet another victory in his quest for the World title.
The world's best triathletes will now head to London on 6-7 August for the Hyde Park leg of the sport's World Championship Series.
Alistair Brownlee leads the series rankings ahead of Russia's Alexander Brukhankov and Javier Gomez, with Jonny Brownlee fourth.
The series concludes in Beijing in September.
There is no chance of a let up or a breather as Britain's six athletes for the London Olympic Games, three men and three women, will be selected based on performances in Hyde Park and Beijing.
"It's one of my proudest races. If you win when things aren't going to plan, you can be really proud of yourself," said Brownlee senior.
The races took place in Pontevedra on the Spanish west coast, the home town of defending men's world champion and the favourite Javier Gomez.
Gomez, 28, is seen as the main threat to British hopes of men's triathlon gold at next year's London Olympics as he and the Brownlee brothers are considered the best in the world.
But Gomez suffered a terrific psychological blow as , on his home turf where he was expected to win, he never really figured in the race and faded badly on the run to finish 40th, leaving the two Brownlees to battle for gold.
"I didn't panic," Alistair, the 2009 Champion said, "I knew I had a puncture but my team-mates worked really hard and Jonny slowed it down at the front. It was a great team performance today.
"On the run, I thought I'd feel a bit ropey but I eased myself into it and pushed on to get away from Jonny."
Jonny Brownlee added: "The puncture threw a spanner in the works - it's the first time it's happened for us - so I tried to slow the group down.
"I gave everything I could in the run but Alistair attacked, got five metres on me pretty quickly, and I had nothing left.
"He was incredible. He got a puncture, caught back up and still beat me. He does incredible stuff like that."
The pair were more than a minute ahead of Russia's Dmitry Polyansky in third. Britain's other finishers were Todd Leckie (22nd) and David McNamee (45th).