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Javier Gomez shows class at Challenge Wanaka

The Spanish world champ looks out for his competitors on the race course.

February 22, 2018
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In a recent video interview that came out after last weekend’s Challenge Wanaka, top-ranked competitor Braden Currie (NZL) who placed second in the pro men’s field talks about the incredible sportsmanship displayed by winner Javier Gomez on the bike leg of the race (1:34):

“We pushed each other all day,” Currie says in the video. “I dropped my chain one time and he came up beside me and gave me a push, tried to get me going again… that didn’t work so I got off and put my chain back on. I look up the road and he’s sitting a couple hundred metres up waiting for me. It shows you the class of that guy and the respect out there on the course is pretty cool.”

Gomez won the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2017, and is starting his bid for the Ironman World Championships this October. He won Challenge Wanaka in a time of 3:57:27, just 17 seconds ahead of Currie.

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Happy to win @challengewanaka . Loved the course and competition. Great job @braden_currie ,pushing me all the way until the finish line, making me run 1.12 on a 21.4km course, mainly on gravel trails and about 300m ascent. And Mr @jessemthomas for another classy performance. I felt better than I expected at this time of the year, it’s always nice to start the season winning!/ Contento por ganar el Challenge Wanaka. Espectacular circuito y rivales! Gran trabajo de Braden Currie, presionándome toda la media maratón hasta la línea de meta. Tuve que correr en 1.12 en el circuito a pie más duro en el que he competido, para poder llevarme la victoria. Tierra, 21.4kms y casi 300m de desnivel positivo. Y enhorabuena a Jesse Thomas por su brillante 3 posición. Contento con mi rendimiento, mejor de lo que me esperaba a estas alturas de temporada. Siempre es bueno empezar ganando!

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