Alex Yee admitted he had doubted whether he would return to a WTCS podium this season after producing an extraordinary comeback to finish second at Karlovy Vary.
The Olympic champion began the run 2:12 behind the leader but tore through the field with a race-best 29:16 split on the technical, hilly 10km course, finishing just 10 seconds behind winner Dorian Coninx.
Afterwards, when speaking to World Triathlon’s Doug Gray, Yee revealed he had felt dizzy during the cold-water swim and spoke of a challenging few weeks at home which had put racing into perspective.
‘A dogfight to get back in the race’
Yee emerged from the swim in 35th, 59 seconds behind leader Alessio Crociani. A quicker transition recovered six seconds, but he still faced a demanding chase on a bike course where repeated climbs and technical descents helped split the field.
“After that swim, it just was a dogfight to get back in the race. I was pretty proud of that ride. It was 300 watts at 57 kilos – not hanging about, is it? So yeah, pretty proud of that.
“But more importantly, I think the last few weeks we’ve had a lot going on at home, and it’s made me realise, you know, there’s a lot more than this.
“I’m just grateful to be able to do what we’re doing, and I think I’m just feeling grateful to everyone back home, everyone who supported us here.”
‘I didn’t feel good the whole time’
Yee’s opening run lap immediately transformed his prospects, cutting his deficit from 2:12 to 1:33. By halfway he was fourth, just 57 seconds off the lead.
But while his progress looked spectacular, the effort felt very different.
“No, I didn’t feel good the whole time, to be honest. I was just fighting, doing what I could. This is a triathlon course, you know. After the swim, I knew there was still a chance.
“So I just gave everything I could. Kudos to the other two Dutch guys who were riding with me. They nipped off to the second pack, but yeah, we got there eventually.
“Really proud of my ride and my run. Stuff to go on the swim, but we’ll get there.”
The Dutch pair were Mitch Kolkman and Ian Pennekamp, who bridged ahead from Yee’s group during the bike.
Yee continued his charge on the run, passing Márk Dévay for third shortly before the bell and then overhauling Tjebbe Kaindl for second with around a kilometre remaining.
Coninx held on for victory, but Yee’s run was 20 seconds quicker than the next fastest, Ricardo Batista’s 29:36.
Dizziness in the swim
Asked whether he had become caught up in the swim pack, Yee explained that his loss of ground had another cause.
“No, no, I dropped the feet. It was my fault, to be honest. I felt really, really dizzy in the swim, something I need to work out with the cold water.
“It’s all learning, and I’m excited I’m back in the fold, proud to be racing with these guys, the best in the world. I’m proud to be back here.”
And after a season punctuated by setbacks, including a snapped chain at the Supertri Pro Series Final in Jersey a week earlier, the return to the podium clearly meant plenty.
“I honestly didn’t know if I was going to be back on a podium. Two DNFs, for a whole multitude of reasons. Another DNF last week with a snapped chain, so you know, this year’s been fighting me.”
But Yee was determined to keep moving forward.
“I’ve always been told that a person moving meets their luck, so I don’t want to stand still. I want to keep moving, and let’s keep going and see what can happen.”
