NEWS

Brownlee Untouchable at European Champs

By Brad Culp | 05 Jul, 2010
Brownlee claims European victory

Great Britain’s Alistair Brownlee proved without a doubt that he is back and as strong as ever with a dominant win at today’s Athlone ETU European Championship. The 22-year-old Brit took the European title ahead of defending champion Javier Gomez of Spain, who finished second, 40 seconds back. France’s David Hauss continued his impressive 2010 season, rounding out the podium in third.

It’s the second major win in a row for Brownlee, who returned from an early season stress fracture to win the third round of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series in Madrid on June 6.

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Gomez and Slovakia’s Richard Varga forced a break early in the 1,500-metre, which was answered by Brownlee and his younger brother, Jonathan, along with Italy’s Alessandro Fabian. By the time the breakaway group entered the first transition, they were 20 seconds up on the main pack, which included Russia’s Dimitry Polyansky, who holds a commanding lead in the ITU Best Swimmer Rankings and is seldom anywhere but the front at the swim exit.

When I was injured earlier this year, this was what I was aiming for. I think that is the biggest number of high fives I have ever done coming into the finishing straight.
Alistair Brownlee

The lead group of five set out onto the bike course, with extremely high wind gusts making for very difficult conditions. Organisers made late changes to the bike course because of the extreme conditions, which resulted in the course being 2K shorter. The course was rerouted for safety reasons to avoid athletes getting too close to castle ramparts, which were of concern to organisers. While Varga eventually lost touch with the leaders, the front pack extended their lead to 1:15 at the end of the 38-kilometre ride.

Brownlee didn’t hesitate long to make his move after exiting transition, charging to the front at the start of the 10K run. Gomez kept pace with the reigning world champ for a few kilometres, but only 3K in the Brit was 20 seconds up the road and gaining time.

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While the older the Brownlee was running away with his first European title, the younger Brownlee was fading fast as Hauss and his countryman Laurent Vidal moved up from the main group. Also charging hard was the Portuguese duo of Joao Silva and Bruno Pais, but no one could gain time on Brownlee, who clinched the win in 1:44:24.

“When I was injured earlier this year, this was what I was aiming for”, Brownlee said. “I think that is the biggest number of high fives I have ever done coming into the finishing straight.”

Gomez finished 40 seconds behind the Brit to grab second, with Hauss narrowly holding off Silva for third.

Related Event: 2010 Athlone ETU Triathlon European Championships
03 - Jul, 2010 • event pageall results
Results: Junior Women
1. Annika Vössing GER 01:01:40
2. Lucy Chittenden GBR 01:02:45
3. Justine Guerard FRA 01:02:46
4. Monika Orazem SLO 01:03:10
5. Lovisa Hjalmarsson SWE 01:03:16
6. Rabea Ludwig GER 01:03:16
7. Theresa Baumgartel GER 01:03:19
8. Lisa Perterer AUT 01:03:24
9. Olga Agapova RUS 01:03:25
10. Petra Kurikova CZE 01:03:34
Results: Junior Men
1. Vicente Hernandez ESP 00:55:23
2. Andrey Bryukhankov RUS 00:55:36
3. Vyacheslav Pimenov RUS 00:55:47
4. Thomas Bishop GBR 00:55:50
5. Alexandre Dallenbach SUI 00:56:03
6. Anthony Pujades FRA 00:56:08
7. Jurg Buhler SUI 00:56:12
8. Ricardo Hernandez Marrero ESP 00:56:16
9. Alois Knabl AUT 00:56:21
10. Davide Uccellari ITA 00:56:25
Results: Elite Women
1. Nicola Spirig SUI 01:57:58
2. Carole Peon FRA 01:58:09
3. Lisa Norden SWE 01:58:20
4. Ainhoa Murua Zubizarreta ESP 01:58:34
5. Aileen Reid IRL 01:58:52
6. Magali Di Marco Messmer SUI 01:58:59
7. Alexandra Razarenova RUS 01:59:02
8. Annamaria Mazzetti ITA 01:59:05
9. Emmie Charayron FRA 01:59:17
10. Hollie Avil GBR 01:59:36
Results: Elite Men
1. Alistair Brownlee GBR 01:44:24
2. Javier Gomez Noya ESP 01:45:04
3. David Hauss FRA 01:45:31
4. Joao Silva POR 01:45:33
5. Laurent Vidal FRA 01:45:40
6. Bruno Pais POR 01:45:45
7. Alexander Bryukhankov RUS 01:45:49
8. Vladimir Turbayevskiy RUS 01:45:54
9. Oliver Freeman GBR 01:45:56
10. Filip Ospaly CZE 01:46:06
Results: 70-74 Male AG
1. Peter Norman GBR 02:59:45
2. Colin Nunnington GBR 03:12:52
DNF. Nigel Dimmock GBR DNF
Results: 70-74 Female AG
1. Daphne Belt GBR 03:36:44