England’s Alistair Brownlee (left) and his brother Jonathan Brownlee compete in the bicycle section of the men’s triathlon race at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland yesterday. Alistair won gold, while Jonathan had to be content with silver. (Reuters)
England’s Alistair Brownlee retained family bragging rights after trumping younger brother Jonathan to win triathlon gold at the Commonwealth Games yesterday. The men’s one-two capped a great day for the English team after Jodie Stimpson earlier took gold in the women’s event.
The two races took place in sweltering conditions, air temperatures peaking at 28 degrees celsius (82F), with the water a balmy 22C, meaning the triathletes didn’t even have to wear the ever-cumbersome wetsuits for their swim.
Alistair Brownlee, the reigning Olympic champion, made his move halfway through the 10km run after working together with his brother in the opening 1.5km swim and secondary 40km cycle around Strathclyde Loch.
“It was tough from start to finish, Jonny was brilliant,” the winning Brownlee said, the triathlon returning to the Commonwealth Games programme for the first time since Melbourne 2006, having made its debut at Manchester 2002.
“It’s fantastic to be Commonwealth and Olympic champion. That was my goal for the season. I have done everything I wanted to do now—I may as well retire!”
Jonny Brownlee, who won bronze at the London Games in 2012, had no problems taking silver. “Alistair was better than me today, I am pleased with second,” he admitted. “It’s hot and I need a good sit down after this. It was hard. I have completed the whole set of medals, I am very pleased with that.”
Scottish student Marc Austin stuck with the Brownlees after a good swim until the last of five laps on the bike around the loch, the chasing peloton swallowing him up. From then on in, it was clear only a disaster would prevent the brothers claiming victory, leaving the peloton to race for bronze.
Stimpson takes Games’ first gold
Alistair built up a 13-sec lead as the bell went for the final lap of the 10km run, South African Richard Murray holding his nerve to seal bronze at 1:12.
Earlier in the day, Stimpson won the first gold medal of the Games. Stimpson, a silver medal winner in the World Triathlon Series in 2013 but who was overlooked for the British squad for the London Olympics in 2012, sprinted clear with 400 metres remaining of the 10km run. The 25-year-old clocked 1hr 58min 56sec, with Canada’s Kirsten Sweetland claiming silver (1:59:01) and England’s Vicky Holland bronze a further 10sec adrift.
“I was nervous about the swim but I had an awesome swim actually,” said Stimpson. “The race was brutal and the bike was definitely a challenge. It was important to be aware and sensible. Our team tactic was just to look out for each other, which we did,” she said.
With a lap to go of the gruelling run, Stimpson was joined by Sweetland and fancied Australian Emma Jackson, who had done well to make up a 25-second deficit from the swimming, in a lead group of five. Holland and New Zealander Andrea Hewitt, a bronze medallist in the 2006 Games in Melbourne, stayed in the mix as Northern Ireland’s Aileen Reid fell off the increasing pace.
As Stimpson ramped up for the final push, Hewitt and Holland struggled, and then Sweetland was left gasping for air as the English triathlete accelerated away for the line in brilliant sunshine.
“I was always gunning for a medal. Obviously I wanted gold but I am happy for anything,” said Sweetland. “During the race I felt okay. I didn’t really feel bad but I didn’t feel great either. On the run I tried to stick on Jodie’s shoulder, which paid off.”
The triathletes are back in action tomorrow, albeit in the sprint distance mixed team relay, an event that makes its Games debut. Teams featuring two men and two women will each swim one 250m lap of the loch before embarking on a 6km cycle and a 1.6km run.
