Alistair Brownlee does Badlands, finishes seventh in iconic race

Fifty-seven hours and 20 minutes later, Alistair Brownlee completed his latest epic sporting challenge on Tuesday after getting on his bike to finish seventh at the Badlands gravel race in Spain.

The two-time Olympic triathlon champion, currently on the way back after the ankle injury which ruined his hopes of bidding for a ‘threepeat’ in Tokyo, headed to Spain at the weekend to compete in the iconic event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nJu0vEVAes

Brownlee bikes 746km

All in all, after setting off on Sunday morning Alistair completed 746km of varied terrain in the rugged Spanish countryside, which mixed desert and mountains along with a total of 15km of climbing.

Italian former pro cyclist Mattia De Marchi claimed victory in the race early on Tuesday when he finished the gruelling course in a total time of 45 hours and 54 minutes. He was followed across the finish line more than three hours later by Ulrich Bartholmös, who claimed second just ahead of Janosch Wintermantel.

Brownlee meanwhile finished the course on Tuesday afternoon, in seventh position, with a total time of 57 hours and 20 minutes.

Alistair Brownlee during his gruelling 746km Spanish adventure.

Now Alistair is expected to turn his attentions back to triathlon as he puts the focus on a long-distance career in the coming months.

He had already said he would not risk his future by rushing back to try and make it to Kona in early October. With the IRONMAN World Championship now rescheduled for February 2022, he has more time to get back to 100 percent to take on the world’s best once again.