Javier Gómez Noya came in fourth yesterday afternoon in the World Series in Leeds. After receiving the Princess of Asturias Award for Sport last Wednesday, the triathlete sponsored by Pamesa Cerámica had to pull ahead to regain positions in the course of an excellent race, allowing him a partial best score in the running of 30:22. With his focus currently on the Olympic Games, the Galician gave a great performance in the Brownlee brothers’ hometown, taking a well-deserved fourth place. Alistair Brownlee came in first, followed by his brother Jonathan and the Australian Royle in third place.
Gómez Noya said, “I’m very happy, despite being left behind by the Brownlees in the cycling. It was obvious they were going to set off at full tilt and I kept up easily with them in the swimming. But that first climb in the cycling without having got my shoes laced up left me with no choice. They took over at the front and I decided to wait and go all out in the running. I didn’t expect to feel so good as I still need more speed training and also this week has been very strenuous, plus all the activity with the Princess of Asturias Award. It’s two months to the Olympics and there are several triathlons meantime to check my progress. The Brownlees deserve hearty congratulations for doing so well on their home turf. Their levels of quality and ambition couldn’t be higher and when they are on form they are very difficult to outdo, though of course they aren’t unbeatable.”
Until the next World Series event, an Olympic distance race on Saturday 2 July in Stockholm, Javier will be in Lugo, his chosen venue to concentrate on preparing for the Olympics where he can enjoy the peace and quiet, excellent facilities and all types of roads for training in the very best conditions. He is supported by several elite athletes and triathletes who spur him on in the extreme sessions an aspiring Olympic gold medal winner must endure.