World Triathlon Championship Series 2024: Britain's Alex Yee wins world title at finals after Olympic gold glory
Published 20/10/2024 at 21:56 GMT+1
After a summer to remember at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Alex Yee has now established himself as the best triathlete in the world after securing the title at the World Triathlon Championship Series. The Olympic gold-medallist fought off competition from Frenchman Leo Bergere to take the crown in Andalusia, finishing third to guarantee success. New Zealand's Hayden Wilde won the race.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Britain's Alex Yee won his first world title after finishing third behind Hayden Wilde and Leo Bergere in the World Triathlon Championship Series finals.
The 26-year-old, having won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, secured another impressive accolade in Andalusia, Spain.
Yee knew heading into the grand final in Torremolinos that he would be crowned champion if he could finish in the front six.
And he did so comfortably, despite trailing a group of five breakaway riders early in the cycling section of the race.
Wilde, who won the race, finished third behind Yee in the overall standings, with Frenchman Bergere in second.
The London native was way out in front in the final standings, racking up a remarkable 4,070 points, while Bergere managed 3,728 and Wilde 3,726.
"This is something which has evaded me for the last three years so makes it all the more sweeter," Yee told the BBC.
"I'm world champion and couldn't be prouder of this season. It shows people at home with hard work anything can happen. Pressure makes diamonds so hopefully I showed that today.
"That was a hard race and it was definitely exciting! Fair play to Hayden and Leo and the guys at the front - they made it a hell of a race and I’m just proud to be part of that and be a part of this amazing season."
Asked about the breakaway group in the cycling, Yee said: "Maybe I wasn’t in the best position. I probably just didn’t have the best legs going out of T1.
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"I think Matt Hauser might have unfortunately had a crash and then maybe a little gap went. I was probably a little bit too far back to even be able to react to that.
"And these boys, they’re the strongest in the game and if they go, then, you know, you’re in danger. So I just had to play to my strengths, work as hard as I could on the bike and run as hard as I could.
"We did everything we could [in the chase group], but these guys are so strong. When the motivation goes out of the group, that’s when, you know that me by myself – or anyone by themselves – aren’t going to make a difference."
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