British team-work makes sure Brownlee retains title

The 2009 world champion – from Leeds – looked out of contention after the bike leg but he fought hard to get back to the main pack and then immediately took charge on the run with younger brother Jonny.

The pair quickly reeled in the breakaway leaders, who included Britain’s Todd Leckie, and ran together until the final stages when Alistair pulled away to claim a remarkable victory by eight seconds.

It continued the 23-year-old’s superb run of form after victories in the World Championship Series races in Madrid and last week in Kitzbuhel, which had put him top of the rankings.

Jonny, 21, had to be content with another second place, as he had at the WCS events in Sydney and Madrid, more than a minute clear of Russia’s Dmitry Polyansky.

Leckie eventually finished 22nd, while world champion Javier Gomez, racing in his home town of Pontevedra, struggled with a stitch during the run and crossed the line in 40th.

France’s Emmie Charayron won the women’s race with Jodie Stimpson the best of the British finishers in 10th place, two ahead of former world under-23 champion Hollie Avil in her first major race of the season.

Alistair thanked his team-mates for their efforts, with Leckie, Harry Wiltshire and Jonny all coming to his aid, the latter almost certainly at the expense of his own chances of victory.

The Yorkshireman said: “It was a great team performance.

“I got the puncture and had to change (the wheel) at the top of the hill and there wasn’t a skewer in the wheel so it took me ages.

“Todd was absolutely fantastic. Harry helped me out for the first bit on the bike and then Todd did some fast turns. Jonny was great blocking and slowing it right down. He would have won if he hadn’t done that, so it was great team work.

“To race in those conditions, have a flat after a hard race last weekend, means the world to me, and it’s another title. It’s the highlight of the season so far. When you win when everything’s not going to plan, that is when you’re really proud of yourself.”

Jonny insisted he had no thoughts of exploiting his brother’s misfortune, saying: “I wanted to let him back in the race. We’re team GB and we’re brothers as well, obviously. We always work together. I don’t like to see people knocked out because of mechanical errors.”