Spain’s Mario Mola retains his WTS Hamburg title in Germany
Strong finish from Birtwhistle for a repeat one-two from 2016
(CLICK HERE FOR THE ELITE WOMEN’S REPORT)
With five races of the 2017 World Triathlon Series complete, a third win from four starts means that reigning World Champion, Mario Mola, has put himself in a strong position to retain his status as world number one when we arrive at the Grand Final in Rotterdam. With his team mate, Fernando Alarza, crashing out on the bike, Mola also now also takes over the lead in the points standings after Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon Hamburg.
Without either of the Brownlee brothers or regular swim pace setter Richard Varga racing, there were no breaks of any note in the swim or the bike, leaving us with a 5km run shoot out. 2016 winner, Mola, was always the favourite to take that one out – and he did so in aggressive style, pulling away within the first kilometre of the race. Any chance of fading? None. “I felt really strong today”, the Spanish athlete said after the race. The 12 second victory margin was a comfortable one.
Silver and Bronze looked like they would go – order to be decided – to the pairing of Ryan Sissons (NZL) and five-time ITU World Champion, Javier Gomez (ESP). However, after looking as though he as out of it, Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) bounced back in the final few hundred metres to run through to second and repeat his Silver medal from 12 months ago. Ryan Sissons took the Bronze (his first WTS podium), while Vincent Luis (FRA) edged out Gomez for fourth.
Tom Bishop (12th) was the first British athlete and ends the day ranked fourth in the World Triathlon Series.
Our podium today, celebrating properly with Erdinger beer #WTSHamburg pic.twitter.com/1r96xq0J4g
— TriathlonLIVE (@triathlonlive) July 15, 2017
ITU World Triathlon Hamburg – Saturday 15th July 2017
750m / 20km / 5km
ELITE MEN
1st – Mario Mola (ESP) – 54:07
2nd – Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) +0.12
3rd – Ryan Sissons (NZL) +0.14
4th – Vincent Luis (FRA) +0.18
5th – Javier Gomez (ESP) +0.19
6th – Dorian Coninx (FRA) +0.21
7th – Richard Murray (RSA) +0.23
8th – Leo Bergere (FRA) + 0.27
9th – Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) +0.31
10th – Joao Pereira (POR) +0.36
12th – Tom Bishop (GBR) + 0.38
34th – Gordon Benson (GBR) + 1.46
37th – Adam Bowden (GBR) + 1.59
46th – Marc Austin (GBR) + 3.10
World Rankings after Hamburg
1st – Mario Mola (ESP) – 2864
2nd – Fernando Alarm (ESP) – 2743
3rd – Javier Gomez (ESP) – 2448
4th – Tom Bishop (GBR) – 2004
5th – Richard Murray (RSA) – 1827