Brownlee, Brownlee, Gomez To Battle For World Title

The podium from last year’s Olympics will return to London to compete for the title of world champion this weekend.

Read the preview from Triathlon.org below:

In the seven World Triathlon Series races contested this year, they’ve all been won by only three men—Alistair Brownlee, Jonathan Browlnee and Javier Gomez. Just over a year after the three battled for a spot on the Olympic podium, they return to much the same course that realized their Olympic dreams in the hunt for a world title. Just 120 points separates the athletes, meaning the world champion will more than likely be the man that crosses the finish line first on Sunday at the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London.

Alistair will line up first at the Serpentine, despite starting in just four World Triathlon Series races this season. The Olympic gold medalist got a late start this year due to a nagging ankle injury, but he came out of the starting blocks blazing in San Diego to announce his return. His performance in sunny California set the tone for the rest of the races, in which he won every single Olympic distance and took silver only to his younger brother in a sprint race at Hamburg to make him the wanted man.

History is on Alistair’s side this weekend, as he’s already won here on the biggest stage triathlon sees at the 2012 Olympic Games, as well as at the WTS London events in 2009 and 2011. He’s also going for his third world championship title, which would give him one more than Spain’s Gomez, as they each currently own two.

On the note of Gomez, he’s no stranger to success on this course, as he won on it in 2010 meaning every single World Triathlon Series race in London has been won by either Alistair or Gomez. Unlike the Brownlees, Gomez has started in every WTS race and has had consistent performances in each. In Stockholm he even out split Alistair on the run, but the Brit’s well timed break on the bike was enough to hold Gomez off. While Alistair has traditionally out raced Gomez, London could just be the turning of the tides.

Jonathan Brownlee proved he is also capable of piping his brother in Hamburg when he shot down the finish chute ahead of Alistair to win his third title of the year. It was also the first race he and his brother competed together this year due to a series of injuries between the two. While Gomez has found it challenging running down Alistair, he has shut Jonny down in several notable races, including at the Olympics and the 2012 Grand Final. If the three come off the bikes together, it could be anybody’s race.

The current standings:
1. Alistair Brownlee (GBR) 3140
2. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 3085
3. Javier Gomez (ESP) 3020

Read the complete preview at Triathlon.org.

PHOTOS: 2012 London Olympics – Men’s Race

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