WA’s Ryan Bailie has fallen agonisingly close to his first World Triathlon Series podium finish in London overnight.
The 24-year-old finished fourth – his best ever WTS finish – after a dramatic final lap sprint with Spain’s Fernando Alarza and Frenchman Vincent Luis.
Bailie finished in 50 minutes 58 seconds – one second behind Luis (50:57) with Alarza (50.51) second in a race won by British Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee (50.39).
Fellow Australians were Aaron Royle (23rd), Ryan Fisher (24th) Declan Wilson (52nd) and Brendan Sexton (53rd).
In a Sprint Distance format (750m swim; 20km bike; 10km run) there was no time for error or mishap.
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After the wetsuit swim Brownlee led the lead pack around Hyde Park alongside Royle, working hard for the Australians and Luis in an 18-man pack.
Expert sprinters Mario Mola (ESP) and Richard Murray (RSA) also missed the first group and were forced to start from a deficit on the two-lap run, but stormed home with Murray 5th, clocking the fastest 5km run split 14:12 and Mola (14th) running 14:22.
Luis and Brownlee continued their quest for a podium as they took the top spot early on the 2-lap run, with Bailie running his heart out, only to fall short, leaving him disappointed.
“I actually felt sluggish all day and I was lucky to make the front pack with Aaron (Royle) doing a lot of work on the bike for us,” said Bailie.
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“In the run I just didn’t feel that flash and thought about things to take my mind away and in the end I just didn’t have the kick to get on the podium.
“It was disappointing, as an athlete you always want more, I guess and I really wanted a podium and I just felt short.”
It was Brownlee who left nothing to chance and blasted away on the first lap to create an insurmountable gap. A gap that would lead him right into the finish line and right into the position of hearing Great Britain’s national anthem alongside his national people.
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