Brownlee brothers on track for Olympic after double podium in Hyde Park

A day after Helen Jenkins’ success, the 23-year-old won his fourth successive race after getting into a four-man breakaway on the bike and then running away from his rivals.

Brownlee’s win ensured his qualification for the Olympic race in exactly a year’s time, where the organisers will hope the weather conditions are slightly more favourable than today’s torrential rain.

Younger brother Jonny Brownlee, 21, produced a superb 10km run to clinch the bronze medal behind Alexander Brukhankov, who held on for silver.

A large swim pack was led out of the Serpentine by Olympic champion Jan Frodeno and world champion Javier Gomez but the decisive move came early on in the 40 kilometre bike stage.

New Zealander James Elvery broke away and was immediately followed by Alistair Brownlee and Russia’s Brukhankov, with Spain’s Ivan Rana joining later.

At first they did not gain much ground but as the rain began to fall the gap lengthened, playing decisively into the hands of the Briton, one of the fastest runners.

At the end of the bike, with the rain bucketing down, the group had a lead of a minute and 13 seconds, and it was no surprise to see Alistair Brownlee race off into the lead, from where he was never likely to be caught.

Jonny Brownlee led the chase along with Gomez and pulled away from the Spaniard in the closing stages to secure his Olympic qualification.

For the full story read Sports Monday inside tomorrow’s Yorkshire Post.