Javier Gomez and Joe Gambles have backed up well from the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, taking podium spots respectively at WTS Edmonton and Triathlon Gerardmer XL.
Gomez remains in the top spot in the World Triathlon Series ranking with a second-place finish in Edmonton, the penultimate race before the Grand Final in Chicago in two weeks time. The Spaniard managed to stay with eventual race winner Richard Murray throughout the race until the last run lap, when the South African pulled away for the win.
Gomez said, “I tried to keep going, but it wasn’t very fast. I couldn’t feel my feet for the first two run laps. I tried to hang on with Richard. Maybe I wasn’t confident enough to beat him in the end, but after racing so much, it’s a good result.” He now turns his focus to the Grand Final, where getting on the podium will mean another ITU world championship title for him to add to his four previous ones.
Gambles took silver at the Triathlon Gerardmer XL distance on Saturday. It was his first return to the race since winning the European Championship at it in 2009. The Australian was in fine form exiting the swim with the front group and leading the bike leg until Spanish former cycling pro Hector Guerra overtook him and smashed the old course record by over four minutes.
Gambles started the run leg three minutes down, but managed to chase down and erase all but 13 seconds of it at the finish line.
“I gritted my teeth and ran as hard as I could, in the end I was 13 seconds short of catching Guerra. It was a bittersweet finish and despite what the French media fabricated, I was happy with my performance but disappointed with the outcome,” said Gambles.
