Alistair Brownlee (GBR) held of defending champion Gregor Buchholz (GER) at the 2008 ITU Triathlon World Championships in Vancouver, BC and took the U23 title. Wearing bib #1 just like Alistair Brownlee did in the men's race, Daniela Ryf (SWI) snagged the U23 women's title.

Aurelien Raphael (FRA) was first out of the very cold water followed closely by Alistair Brownlee and Alexander Brukhankov (RUS). Once on the bike a lead pack of 25 men was established and most contenders were in that lead group. Defending champion Gregor Buchholz though was in the first chase pack, about 20 seconds behind. By the time they hit T2 the Buchholz group had closed the gap.

A speedy transition sent Nils Frommhold (GER) out onto the run course first, but that lead was not to there to stay. Brownlee and Brukhankov soon caught and passed the German and not too much later Brownlee got rid of Brukhankov. He slowly eased away and with 3k to go Brownlee had established a 26-second lead. Behind him it was now Martin Van Barneveld (NZL) and Buchholz fighting for the remaining medals as Brukhankov started to fade.

Brownlee crossed the finish line first and with it became the second triathlete in ITU history to win both junior and under23 world titles.
Bucholz out-sprinted Van Barneveld for the silver medal, but Van Barneveld’s bronze made him the first man to win an under23 world championship medal for New Zealand.

In the women’s race, Mari Rabie, the reigning African champion was first out of the water followed closely by Jasmine Oeinck (USA), Inna Tsyganok (UKR) and Ryf.

Ryf, Rabie and Oeinck worked together well on the bike and soon had an almost 1 minute lead over the first group of chasers. The lead kept going up and as the trio approached T2 their cushion was just about 3 minutes.

Rabie was fast out onto the 10k run course followed closely by Ryf, but Oeinck struggled in T2 and left transition 22 seconds back. Ryf though got rid of Rabie immediately and cruised to a relatively comfortable victory. Oeinck managed to catch and pass Rabie for second and the South African held on for the final podium spot.




Unofficial results


U 23 men

1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR) 1:54:37
2. Gregor Buchholz (GER) 1:54:56
3. Martin Van Barneveld (NZL) 1:54:59
4. Todd Leckie (GBR) 1:55:12
5. Alexander Brukhankov (RUS) 1:55:36
6. Lukas Salvisberg (SUI) 1:55:46
7. Nils Frommhold (GER) 1:55:56
8. Alberto Casadei (ITA) 1:55:59
9. Joshua Maeder (AUS) 1:56:09
10. Tony Dodds (NZL) 1:56:10

U23 women

1. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 2:09:30
2. Jasmine Oeinck (USA) 2:10:02
3. Mari Rabie (RSA) 2:11:35
4. Olesya Prystayko (UKR) 2:12:51
5. Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI) 2:13:02
6. Justine Whipple (USA) 2:13:08
7. Yuliya Sapunova (UKR) 2:13:32
8. Renata Koch (HUN) 2:13:55
9. Sarah Fladung (GER) 2:14:25
10. Kerry Spearing (CAN) 2:14:57