Britain's Will Clarke was just 1sec from victory at the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Hamburg on Saturday. It was a remarkable performance, which saw the 2008 British Olympian set the fastest run split of the day, and secured Clarke’s first-ever podium finish in the Series and second place in the world rankings.
Silver is the highlight of Clarke’s career, and signifies the 26-year-old's determination to gain selection for the London 2012 Games.
Clarke led in the final kilometre of the run after grinding down the defending world champion, Javier Gomez, but was passed in the final sprint for the line by Australian, Brad Kahlefeldt.
Following solid swims, both Clarke and Tim Don made it into a pack of 20 athletes on the bike. Don attempted a breakaway on the flat, technical course, but it was a huge pack of athletes that rolled into the second transition ready for the 10km run.
Jan Frodeno, the Olympic champion and home favourite, was the only athlete not to start the run in contention after a problem with his wheel on the final bike lap.
A group of eight, including Clarke, surged into a lead with Gomez, but it was Clarke and Kahlefeldt that gained control of the race as Gomez fell away.
Approaching the finish, Clarke was in the lead with Kahlefeldt and Frenchman, David Hauss, on his shoulders. Clarke looked back as they reached the finishing carpet and Kahlefeldt made his sprint for glory. Tim Don ran through for a solid seventh place finish and Todd Leckie was 32nd.
Clarke said: “I’ve been dreaming about this for so long. I feel absolutely delighted. I’ve been hoping for this moment for years and now it’s happened. I’m over the moon.”
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