After 18 months away, multiple world champion Javier Gomez takes 70.3 Mossel Bay

His career includes five World Triathlon championships, two 70.3 world titles and an Xterra world championship, along with the bronze medal from the 2012 Olympics. Javier Gomez is a legend in the sport, which is why his triumphant return to racing at Ironman 70.3 Mossel Bay in South Africa is garnering lots of attention.

South Africa’s Nicholas Quenet led out of the water, but was caught towards the end of the bike by a group that included Gomez, Matt Trautman and Cameron Macnair. (Defending champion Bradley Weiss had to pull out during the bike due to illness.) Trautman led out of T2, but it wasn’t long before Gomez was in front, and he would take the win in 3:51:46, thanks to the day’s fastest run (1:12:40). Trautman would take second with Quenet rounding out the podium.

“It was great to be back after one and a half years of no racing internationally,” Gomez said. “I had so many problems and injuries, but I finally got to train quite well for the last few months and I felt ready. I didn’t have my skin suit with me, so it was quite challenging swimming with a tri suit with back pockets. I felt that I was doing extra effort just to move forwards…On the bike it took me a while to find my rhythm, I wasn’t very comfortable for the first 30 to 40 km. Towards the end I felt a bit better and could push a bit harder, and I knew it was going to be a hard run course, so I wanted to not to be too tired.” 

Professional men 

1. Javier Gomez (ESP) – 3:51:46 

2. Matt Trautman (ZAF) – 3:54:22 

3. Nicholas Quenet (ZAF) – 4:00:09 

4. Matthew Ralphs (ZAF) – 4:04:04 

5. Cameron MacNair (ZAF) – 4:05:30

Pallant-Browne retains title

Great Britain’s Emma Pallant-Browne defended her title in style, going two minutes faster this year, finishing in 4:21:24.

Pallant-Browne was just 11-seconds back at the end of the swim and quickly moved to the front on the bike and would continue to charge clear for the win.

“I live in South Arica, so any time there is a race here it’s perfect for me,” Pallant-Browne said after the race. “This is pretty much my home race, we live in Johannesburg, and we were able to drive here with the dogs…I did a really good five week block at home coming into this race…it was just what my body needed to stay in one place and get some consistent training in. Johannesburg is at altitude, the weather’s great and I have my treadmill, my turbo and all my set up, so it went really well. 

“I know that Magda’s had her best year so far, she’s won four races abroad and I’ve ridden with Madga before, so I know she’s very strong and we live by each other and try and train together so definitely knew she was stronger than last year, so I was looking forward to a good battle and to try and make it an exciting race,” Pallant-Browne continued.

Professional women

1. Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) – 4:21:24 

2. Magda Nieuwoudt (RSA) – 4:28:02 

3. Eloise Du Luart (FRA) – 4:45:02