In the first sprint distance ITU World Triathlon Series event of the year, the sprinters got their revenge as Spain’s Mario Mola edged Richard Murray of South Africa and Joao Pereira of Portugal took the final spot on the podium at Hyde Park in London.
At the finish of a furiously fast two-lap 5k on the 2012 Olympic course, the once-dominant Brownlee brothers were 4th (Ali) and 5th (Jonny) while Spain’s Javier Gomez and his perfect three-win start to the 2014 season lay in tatters after a humble-for-Javvy 6th place finish.
After just one lap in the swim and four on the bike, there was no opportunity to make a break so a front pack of nearly 30 started the run just seconds apart. Just as in the previous WTS race in Yokohama, the same cast of top runners broke fast as the Spaniards Gomez and Mola, Murray of South Africa, and Brits Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee were 1-2-3-4-7. Joining the speed party were Ryan Bailie of Australia 5th, and Joao Pereira and Joao Silva of Portugal 6th and 8th.
Starting lap 2, Gomez made a move to extend his three-race WTS win streak to four by taking the lead, but heading toward the final kilometer he faded. Alistair Brownlee then made a brief surge to the front before he too fell back. Murray took the lead, but in the finish chute Mola, who lost the longer 10k duel to Gomez at Yokohama, had the most gas and held off the South African by one second. Pereira hung around for his first WTS podium.
At the finish, Mola posted a sizzling 14:18 5k split – a 4:36 per mile pace -- to take the win in 49:46 with a one second margin of victory over his training partner Murray and three seconds over Pereira. The win was Mola’s first WTS victory and one place better than his second place finish at Yokohama, one second behind Gomez.
Alistair Brownlee, in his second race back after sitting out Auckland and Cape Town with injury, ran 14:27 on his way to 4th place, six seconds behind the winner. Brother Jonny ran 14:32 to finish 5th, six seconds behind his brother and Gomez ran 14:34 on his way to 6th place, two seconds Jonny Brownlee.
Mola’s win was the first for anyone other than Alistair Brownlee and Gomez at London. In addition, it has been 18 months since anyone save a Brownlee or Gomez stood atop a WTS podium.
Ryan Bailie served notice he may be the top Australian on the circuit with a 14:34 run and 7th place finish, just 4 seconds behind Gomez.
Kevin McDowell of the U.S. in his first WTS race and first race after a breakthrough runner-up finish at the Chengdu World Cup, three weeks ago, acquitted himself well with a 15:11 run, a 50:42 time and a 27th place of 61 finishers -- ahead of established performers such as Ivan Rana (29th), Aaron Royle (30th), Andrey Brukhankov (39th), Henri Schoeman (48th), and Reinaldo Colucci (50th). Fellow U.S. competitor Kaleb Vanort finished 54th.
Despite his drop to 6th place, Gomez maintained the Threadneedle WTS points rankings lead with 2942 points, followed by Jonathan Brownlee (2652), Mola (2637), Murray (2011) and Ryan Bailie (1674). On the strength of just two finishes, Alistair Brownlee stands 10th with 1266 points.
London World Triathlon Series
London, Great Britain
May 31, 2014
S 750m / B 19.1 k / R 5k
Elite men
1. Mario Mola (ESP) 49:46
2. Richard Murray (RSA) 49:47
3. Joao Pereira (POR) 49:49
4. Alistair Brownlee (GBR) 49:52
5. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 49:58
6. Javier Gomez (ESP) 50:00
7. Ryan Bailie (AUS) 50:04
8. Joao Silva (POR) 50:14
9. Vincent Luis (FRA) 50:16
10. Sven Riederer (SUI) 50:17
27. Kevin McDowell (USA) 50:42
54. Kaleb Vanort (USA) 52:41
