Jonathan Brownlee won the ITU World Triathlon Stockholm and claimed the world number one ranking in dramatic style in Sweden. Non Stanford achieved her first ever top ten finish in the women’s race with sixth place.
Brownlee was eighth out of the water and had a good transition that got him into a lead group on the bike. A group of eleven stayed together and made it to the second transition with a small lead over a very strong chase pack, which contained Olympic silver medallist, Javier Gomez.
Richard Varga was first out of transition and into his running, but Brownlee soon passed him. Alexander Bryukhankov, the ITU World Triathlon Series leader before this race, made a strong burst to catch Brownlee. However, some confusion led him to turn back when Brownlee followed the lead bike, apparently going off course.
Brownlee held his lead through to the finish, despite a storming effort by Javier Gomez to catch him. Vincent Luis of France finished third.
Brownlee said: “I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel after the Olympics, only two and a half weeks ago. It was a very fast race all the way round, there was no easy point. The cobbles made it really hard and it was hard work getting chased from behind.”
He added: “I was confident coming into this, I normally do quite well in a sprint. It wasn’t that long ago that I was a junior, so I’m used to this distance. Now I’m going to go home and take a few easy days. I’ve just bought a house so I’ll do some decorating, and then I’m going to try and finish off the Series in Auckland.”
Adam Bowden was the next British finisher in 21st with David McNamee 26th.
Non Stanford achieved her first ever top ten finish with sixth place in the elite women’s race. After a solid swim and bike leg she looked fresh on her feet, pulling away from some very experienced international triathletes.
Stanford started the season with 11th place in Sydney, and now looks to be in fine form heading into next weekend’s ETU Triathlon U23 European Championship in Spain.
London 2012 Olympian, Vicky Holland, was 19th and Lois Rosindale was 37th.
Tomorrow sees the ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships, in which the GE Great Britain team has two squads lining up for the exciting, fast paced event. The sport is bidding for Triathlon Mixed Relays to be included in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. A decision will be reached in September 2013.
Elite Men
1. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 54:22
2. Javier Gomez (ESP) 54:29
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 54:33
21. Adam Bowden (GBR) 55:59
26. David McNamee (GBR) 56:19
40. William Clarke (GBR) 56:59
47. Tim Don (GBR) 57:37
49. Ritchie Nicholls (GBR) 58:14
Elite Women
1. Lisa Norden (SWE) 1:00:36
2. Maaike Caelers (NED) 1:00:45
3. Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI) 1:00:55
6. Non Stanford (GBR) 1:01:14
18. Vicky Holland (GBR) 1:02:12
37. Lois Rosindale (GBR) 1:03:41
