Spain’s Javier Gomez
Spain’s Javier Gomez won his third straight world triathlon championship Saturday, finishing second behind countryman Mario Mola in the ITU World Triathlon Series finale.
Gomez and Mola traded the lead several times on the last lap of the run until Mola outkicked Gomez over the final few hundred meters at Grant Park in downtown Chicago.
Mola finished the 1,500- meter swim in Lake Michigan, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run in 1 hour, 44 minutes, 53 seconds, coming in just 4 seconds ahead of Gomez. South Africa’s Richard Murray was third in 1:45:35.
The finish was dramatic, with Gomez making a final bid to win.
“I was happy with my title in my pocket when I was running shoulder by shoulder with him,” Gomez said. “I still tried to win the race, but he was just stronger today and I’m happy with the second and happy with my fifth world title.”
Mola finished second in the series standings. France’s Vincent Luis was third.
“When I have the opportunity to race side by side (with Gomez), it’s always an amazing feeling,” Mola said. “I was lucky to get this one, to win today, but ah, he’s five times world champion.”
Gomez is the first man to win three straight triathlon world championships and five overall. He also won in 2010 and 2008, making him the sport’s dominant man over the last several years. AP
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