Mola Gets First WTS Win In London
Spain's Mario Mola captured his first ITU World Triathlon Series win in dramatic style in London.
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Spain’s Mario Mola captured his first ITU World Triathlon Series win in dramatic style in London, pulling out a perfectly time sprint to hold off training partner Richard Murray (RSA) in the final 100 meters of the race.
Mola was quiet throughout the swim and the bike in the sprint race in Hyde Park before coming to the front as part of an eight man lead group at the start of the 5km run. But as others tried to break the field early, including both Alistair Brownlee (GBR) and Javier Gomez (ESP) at different stages, Mola waited patiently until the final finishing chute. It was Murray that reeled in Brownlee first, but then had to contend with Mola on his shoulder. As they exhausted everything in the dash to the tape, it was Mola that found that extra level to claim his first career series win in a total time of 49:46.
It was the second consecutive podium place for Murray, who collected bronze in Yokohama. The final place on the podium was reserved for a new talent in Portugal’s Joao Pereira. A regular on the WTS circuit for the past two seasons, Pereira had recorded consistent a number of top-10 results, including a 10th in last year’s Grand Final. But this year he proved he is one to watch on the Road to Rio, outsprinting Alistair Brownlee to claim his first series medal. It was the first time in the history of the London event that a Brownlee or Gomez has not finished on the podium.
London, Great Britain – May 31, 2014
750m swim, 20km bike, 5km
Men
1. Mario Mola ESP 49:46
2. Richard Murray RSA 49:47
3. Joao Pereira POR 49:49
4. Alistair Brownlee GBR 49:52
5. Jonathan Brownlee GBR 49:58
6. Javier Gomez Noya ESP 50:00
7. Ryan Bailie AUS 50:04
8. Joao Silva POR 50:14
9. Vincent Luis FRA 50:16
10. Sven Riederer SUI 50:17Complete results.