On Saturday, Jonathan Brownlee opened the 2024 qualifying period for the Paris Olympics with an emphatic victory from early on the bike all the way through to the finish line at the sprint distance Arzachena World Triathlon Cup in Sardinia.
Brownlee repeated his 2021 Sardinia World Triathlon Cup win with a 16-seconds margin over Manoel Messias of Brazil, and 27 seconds over 3rd place Tom Richard of France.
“I love racing here, it’s one of the hardest on the circuit,” Brownlee told World Triathlon media. “I didn’t have my best swim, on the first lap of the bike I learned from last year there’s no point going on my own so I went really hard at the top of the hill and the three of us worked really well together. Then I knew on the run that I should have enough. I doubted myself over the last few years and I think it’s because, in my early career, races and podiums came one after the other. I am never going to take it for granted ever again.”
Brownlee led a four-man bike breakaway on the first of three brutal climbs in 93-degrees Fahrenheit heat, as Tom Richard of France, Mark Devay of Hungary and Dylan McCullough of New Zealand stuck with him. Attacking the crest and careering the downhills, the quartet established a 25-seconds lead after lap one. The gap increased to 45 seconds after the second of three laps. In the mad chase, Adrien Briffod of Switzerland and Casper Stornes of Norway coming off on the slick speedy downhill.
On the final bike lap and heading out on the run, Brownlee pulled away by 13 seconds over Mark Devay, 20 seconds over Tom Richard, and 40 seconds over McCullough.
On speedy run wings, Manoel Messias jetted first past McCullough, then Devay and finally overtaking Richard for the silver. Brownlee finished in 54:08 with a 16 seconds margin over Messias, 27 seconds over third-place Richard and 33 seconds ahead of Devay.
Max Studer of Switzerland ran his way to fifth ahead of Alberto Gonzalez Garcia of Spain. Radim Grebik of Czechoslovakia then edged in a furious sprint down the blue carpet with Emil Holm of Denmark and Lasse Luhrs of Germany.
“A lot of hard work from a lot of people has come together to achieve this result, and I am delighted with silver and carry on a great day for Brazil in Arzachena,” Messias told World Triathlon media.
“I am very happy, this is my first podium in the World Cup, that was the goal before the race.” Said Richard. “We did a breakaway just after the swim, I was close after Jonny Brownlee so I thought in my head that it was a good follow. It was very hard but I gave everything as I entered T2. so it was. amazing to join a podium with Jonny Brownlee.”
2022 World Triathlon Cup Arzachena
Cannigione, Arzachena, Sardinia Italy
May 28, 2022
S 750m / B 20k / R 5k
Men's Results
1. Jonny Brownlee (GBR) S 08:52 T1 00:38 B 28:58 T2 00:22 R 15:16 TOT 54:08
2. Manoel Messias (BRA) Splits unavailable - Final Time 54:24
3. Tom Richard (FRA) S 08:56 T1 00:39 B 28:52 T2 00:21 R 15:44 TOT 54:35
4. Mark Devay (HUN) S 08:44 T1 00:40 B 29:03 T2 00:22 R 15:50 TOT 54:41
5. Max Studer (SUI) Splits unavailable - Final Time 55:00
6. Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP) S 09:01 T1 00:40 B 29:36 T2 00:20 R 15:33 TOT 55:13
7. Radim Grebik (CZE) S 09:16 T1 00:36 B 29:24 T2 00:20 R 15:41 TOT 55:17
8. Emil Holm (DEN) S 09:07 T1 00:37 B 29:31 T2 00:28 R 15:41 TOT 55:17
9. Lasse Luhrs – (GER) Splits not available – Final time 55:18
10. Jonas Schomburg (GER) S 08:58 T1 00:38 B 29:39 T2 00:23 R 15:39 TOT 55:19
