Sissons 13th on year end rankings as Gomez wins third world title

Javier Gomez (ESP) took out the ITU World Triathlon Series title in a simply amazing display of triathlon at a very wet and cold Hyde Park in London today, winning in a sprint finish from Jonny Brownlee (GBR) in a winner take all dash for the line, with the Kiwis off the pace on a hugely competitive day as the sport yet again took another step in its evolution.

Tony Dodds (Wanaka) swam quite brilliantly to be in the lead group out of the water, officially in 8th place but with a quick transition the young Kiwi established himself firmly in the lead bike group of 13 that included the Brownlees (GBR), Gomez and Aaron Royle (AUS). Meanwhile Ryan Sissons (Auckland) came out of the water 1:18 down and settled into the second chase group as the race took on a pattern of 3 clear groups on the 40km bike leg.

With so much at stake though and with quality athletes in all three groups, the pace was on throughout and the chase group became one large beast with two laps to ride, intent on riding down the leaders who led by 40 seconds at one point but saw that lead slowly but surely come down as the end of the bike came into sight.

Disaster then struck for Dodds as he punctured within one kilometre of the end of the bike and had no choice but to ride on to transition, losing 27 seconds in the process and undoing much of the great work he had done on the bike to that point. Sissons followed in 45 seconds down on the leaders in the large chase group that included Mario Mola (ESP), Richard Murray (SAF) and Laurent Vidal (FRA).

What then transpired on the run was quite incredible as the world was treated to one of the all time great head to head battles as Gomez and Jonny Brownlee ran side by side throughout the 10km, putting on a stunning display of racing. And it was Gomez that won in a sprint finish to claim line honours and the overall 2013 ITU World Triathlon Series title.

Alistair meanwhile was consigned to urging his brother on whenever they passed on the course, suffering from an Achilles injury that saw him limp to the finish in front of the huge British crowds.

For the Kiwis Sissons ran through a number of athletes to finish 22nd and Dodds came home 37th after emptying the tank on the bike and having to overcome the puncture.  Martin van Barneveld withdrew early on the bike leg after losing too much time in the swim.

Sissons reviewed what was a fast race in tough and testing conditions.

“I have been struggling with the swim this season and today was the same, I was in a decent pack (on the bike) and we worked hard to catch up to the main pack, the goal was to get as close to the front as possible and we managed to do that but it took a good bit of energy to do that, we were chasing for a good 30k.

“On the run I felt pretty good but I just couldn’t go any faster, I was running pretty decent but just couldn’t t stay with the front guys from our pack and that is where the top 12 went and I think I finished in the top 20 so it is not a bad end to the season and the conditions were pretty difficult out there today.

“I was a little bit cold to begin with but then you started to warm up pretty quick, we were lucky the rain stayed away for the majority of the bike, that is where you get coldest, on the run you warm up pretty quickly on the run.”

Sissons ends the year ranked 13 in the world, with Dodds 41st and Clark Ellice who did not race in London at 34 in the world.

For official results, CLICK HERE

For final world rankings, CLICK HERE