Javier Gomez of Spain emphatically re-staked his claim as the top Olympic-style triathlete in the world with a definitive 24-second win over runner-up Brad Kahlefeldt of Australia and a 34-second margin over 2006 International Triathlon Union world champion Tim Don of Great Britain in the hotly contested Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup.

Gomez emerged from a 64-man bike pack in an 11-man duel for the first of four 2.5-kilometer laps of the run. Halfway through the 10km run, Gomez and Australia’s Brad Kahlefeldt broke free of a high-quality pack that included Don, Great Britain’s emerging star Oliver Freeman, New Zealand’s 2004 ITU world champion Bevan Docherty, Australian newcomer Brendan Sexton, Canada’s Paul Tichelaar, Australia’s 2004 Olympian Simon Thompson, and 2004 Olympian and 2007 Life Time Fitness series king, Greg Bennett of Australia.

By the end of the third lap, Gomez broke off alone on his way to a 30:29 run that was 28 seconds faster than Kahlefeldt’s effort and put the Spaniard at the finish in 1:49:50. The Mooloolaba win marked Gomez’s 14th straight ITU World Cup podium finish, a mark almost as remarkable as Fernandes’s 12-win streak, given the greater depth and strength of the current men’s World Cup fields.

Gomez overcame a poor, 24th-place swim and an early crash on the bike. "I had a horrible swim, probably the worst of my life," Gomez told ITU media at the finish. "On the second lap of the run, I tried to break away but Brad [Kahlefeldt] came with me. On the third lap, I tried with all my [passion] and got away. It's so special to win here in Australia. I was close last year, but Brad beat me."

Kahlefeldt paid tribute to Gomez in a post-race interview with ITU media. "I attacked at the hill [at the 5km turnaround] and I felt pretty good. But he countered at the top and he kept going and going. I gave it my all."

Gomez edges Kahlefeldt for the victory at Mooloolaba

Photo: Delly Carr

While Gomez ended 2007 with his second straight ITU World Cup series points championship title, his season was flawed by taking second to the miracle comeback finish of German longshot Daniel Unger at the 2007 ITU world championship in Hamburg. While Gomez gained some satisfaction and redemption with a strong win at the Olympic preview Beijing World Cup in September, his dominant on-the-road win at Mooloolaba augurs well for his dream of Olympic gold in August.

Great Britain's Tim Don scored the bronze, another 10 seconds back of Kahlefeldt, his first World Cup podium since a bronze at Salford in 2005. Of course Don can console himself that he had a pretty good race in the interim, taking gold at the 2006 ITU world championship in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In the race for the Olympics, Terenzo Bozzone’s 14th place outpaced fellow Kiwi Shane Reed’s 27th place by 50 seconds, making a claim for New Zealand’s third Olympic slot behind already-qualified Bevan Docherty (fifth in Mooloolaba) and Kris Gemmell (DNS).

In perhaps the most exciting race within the race, 2004 Olympic fourth-place finisher Bennett passed fellow contenders for the third Australian men’s Olympic slot on the final lap. When he was done, Bennett ran a 31:01 final 10km and passed 2004 Olympian Simon Thompson (31:30 run) with two laps to go and made up a four-second deficit to newcomer Brendan Sexton (31:20 run) on the final lap. Bennett’s fifth place in 1:50:29 topped eigth place Sexton by 15 seconds and whipped ninth place Thompson by 24 seconds.

Greg Bennett (22) finished fifth to lay claim to the third and final Australian Olympic team spot

Photo: Delly Carr

While Bennett’s finish did not yet guarantee him a second Olympic appearance, it puts him in the pole position for the final Olympic slot which will be chosen by Triathlon Australia national coach Bill Davoren after one more key World Cup race.

While Bennett’s last-second Olympic try looks good, legendary three-time ITU world champion (and two-time world championship silver medalist) Peter Robertson faded to 41st. Sadly, Robbo's quest for a third Olympics looks pretty bleak at the moment.

Young American contenders Mark Fretta (17th with a 31:58 run) and Manny Huerta (20th and a 32:04 run) made strong showings in an all-star field, finishing ahead of veteran ITU stars Courtney Atkinson (24th), Shane Reed (25th), Robertson (41st), William Clarke (42nd) and Brent McMahon (DNF).

2008 Mooloolaba BG World Cup
Mooloolaba Australia
March 30, 2008
1.5km S/40km B/10km R

Elite Men's Results
1. Javier Gomez (ESP) 1:49:50
2. Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) 1:50:14
3. Tim Don (GBR) 1:50:24
4. Bevan Docherty (NZL) 1:50:27
5. Greg Bennett (AUS) 1:50:29
6. Oliver Freeman (GBR) 1:50:34
7. Paul Tichelaar (CAN) 1:50:38
8. Brendan Sexton (AUS) 1:50:45
9. Simon Thompson (AUS) 1:50:53
10. Kyle Jones (CAN) 1:50:58
14. Terenzo Bozzone (NZL) 1:51:23
17. Mark Fretta (USA) 1:51:31
18. Olivier Marceau (SUI) 1:51:32
20. Manuel Huerta (USA) 1:51:36
24. Courtney Atkinson (AUS) 1:51:56
25. Shane Reed (NZL) 1:52:12
41. Peter Robertson (AUS) 1:51:13