Brownlees assist GB in lifting world crown

Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee, 26, came home first in the men’s event on Saturday, with younger brother Jonny, 24, third as they recorded their first podium finishes of the season – sandwiching Vincent Luis of France in second.

Yesterday, the duo from Leeds – along with Lucy Hall, 22, and 28-year-old Vicky Holland, who finished seventh in the women’s race the previous day – crossed the line in one hour 19 minutes and seven seconds to claim the title they took home in 2011 and 2012.

Britain held off a youthful French team by four seconds to claim gold, while Hungary came home third, 20 seconds further back.

Hall was ahead after the 300m swim, but struggled after banging her shin on a wheel on the bike leg and missed the main group.

Jonny put in a brilliant second leg to pull himself close to the leaders on the bike and then a powerful surge on the run helped him put Britain in front before Alistair outsprinted Luis for the second consecutive day on the final leg as the British team triumphed.

Alistair said: “It was a great team performance, but Jonny, to be honest, had the stand-out leg (yesterday).

“It was absolutely phenomenal to get back that deficit, but everybody did great and we are really happy to win it again after last year.”

Jonny added: “I did a bit of time trialling at the start of the year and I needed it.

“I love this format of racing; it’s great to take part in, great race.”