Stockholm Triathlon: World Series

race of the 2014 world triathlon series.

will take place over back-to-back weekends. It is about banking as

many points as possible before the final in Edmonton when the world

champion will be crowned. For the third time this year the competition

will be over the shortest sprint distance. The men are hard first and

if the previous two sprints are anything to go by, it is likely to

be spectacular. Setting a fast and furious pace.

Everyone is in and Setting a fast and furious pace.

this. Murray and Mario Mola Setting a fast and furious pace.

gather! Murray takes the win with Setting a fast and furious pace.

brilliant sprint finish. Tens of thousands outlining the streets of

Hamburg. Alistair Brownlee is kicking away! And he takes the win

in hamburg. Even before that win, Olympic

champion Alistair Brownlee Even before that win, Olympic

could not become world champion this year. An early-season injury meant

he was not able to compete in enough races. The Commonwealth Games had to

become his top priority. Alistair Brownlee, the Olympic

champion, is now the Commonwealth champion as well.

Did you have this huge sense of relief crossing the line? Not so

much relief. I didn't really feel that pressure to do it, it was

moored that I just wanted to do it. I wanted to go out and race as well

as I could, have a good race, because I had not really raced that

well that year. I was happy to perform on the day. I had a couple

of easy weeks up in Glasgow and a couple of good weeks of training.

Hopefully I have not lost much and managed to push on a bit. Stockholm

is a great course and Edmonton should be very good as well. What

has this year taught you about winning the world title again?

Winning the world title and the World Series has changed quite a lot

in the last few years. You can't just rocked up in May or June and

start racing. You have to race early and you probably have to do most of

the races. If you want to commit to do the World Series, which I'm not

entirely sure I want to do, it is a tough thing and I'm not sure it is

worth it. Are you saying you will provide the not try to become world

champion in this distance again? Never say never to it I suppose, but

with the World Championship as it is with so many races around the world,

having to race so early in the year, it is difficult to do. Until the

World Series changes to a more sensible format, five or six races

with a bit less travelling involved, I probably won't chase it.

Some people will ask why it is difficult for the you to do if

someone like Javier Gomez can do it? He is prepared to travel for a lot

of time away from home. It is a choice of do I want to race in the

World Series and be subpar all year and race lots of knee jerk races, or

do I want to erase the best I possibly can be? For me it is not

about travelling to the other side of the world in the middle of

winter. I'm all about getting the most out of myself as an athlete.

How do you approach Stockholm? It is nice because I can just go out and

race well in the series. I have got Johnny to consider. Johnny really

needs to win here in Stockholm. What happens if both of you are in the

lead, do you go to the win yourself? I would never purposefully give him

the win. But if we were both there and it made a big difference to him,

maybe that would give him extra motivation to out sprint me. Can

Javier Gomez be stopped from winning his fourth world title? He probably

needs to crash to be honest. I suppose he can be. We have seen

before where people have had bad races. He has been going very hard

since early in the year, so we will see. That is Alistair's view on this

weekend's race and the World Series as a whole. Current world champion

Javier Gomez has certainly raised savvy this year, putting himself in

a good position to win his fourth world title.

It is an athlete's five best results that count towards their ultimate

ranking. A win earns you 800 points but in the grand final it is 1200.

Javier Gomez already has four victories. Yet another win for the

Spaniard. He has done it in style in Chicago. Tellingly, he has not even

made the podium in the two sprint races so far. It will be very

difficult to stop him retaining his title. But the sprint specialists

have an opportunity here in the Swedish capital. One of them, Mario

Mola, is the only other winner of a World Series triathlon race this

year, besides Javier Gomez and Alistair. But he will be tested over

the hilly and technically demanding course. Ahead of Mario Mola is

Jonathan Brownlee. It has been a disappointing season by his high

standards. He has not won a race all year. But he did win Stockholm's

sprint two years ago. A victory here would give him enough points to

stand a chance of becoming world champion, but he would need to win

the grand final too, and to count on Javier Gomez finishing outside the

top three here and the top five in Edmonton. The water is very choppy

and the cobbled streets out there will be very slippery. Let's see if

Johnny Brownlee can keep himself in the hunt for the world title.

COMMENTATOR: The beautiful Swedish city of Stockholm, playing host once

again to the WTF, the world triathlon series. It is a sprint

distance this year. Our umbrellas and ponchos out, very unseasonable

today. One lap in the water. Into transition, pick up the bikes, five

laps of four kilometres each to conclude the 20 kilometre second

stage on two wheels. When they return to transition fire a couple

of trips out and back past these Swedish Parliament house, and then

the run. Two laps of 2.25 kilometres each, so a total of 750 kilometres

in the water, 20 kilometre on two wheels, and a five kilometre run to

round things off. All the main contenders are involved. Javier

Gomez wears number one. Alistair Brownlee wears number eight. They

are ready to go and they are into the cold waters. In Stockholm. They

are in a huge freshwater lake upon which sits this magnificent Swedish

city. The waters from the lake flow out into the Baltic Sea. I can tell

you that conditions here are Baltic today. Wet suits for the swim and it

will be chilly and difficult on the bike, and the water is very choppy

here in Stockholm as well. Very choppy. The first thing we're

looking at is how high the recovery of the arms are on this swim. You

don't normally see the pack spreading out so much so quickly.

I'm not too sure how well Jonathan Brownlee has

I'm not too sure how well Jonathan We will have to see when we see

closer up. To me it looks like Gomez and Johnny Brownlee have dropped off

a bit. Richard Varga, we have become used to him leading out. He will

certainly be up in the lead pack today. 18.8 degrees, the air

temperature, which is fairly economical for August, and a chilly

15 degrees in the water, as the early pace comes unsurprisingly from

the Slovakian swim specialist Richard Varga, wearing number 17. He

has done a lot of training over the past two or three-year is with the

Brownlee brothers. He is a good training partner for them because he

is such a strong swimmer. He has improved his running and cycling

considerably in the last couple of years. Brownlee forcing the pace.

Look out for Aurelien Raphael, the Frenchman, with number 15. One lap

only in the freshwater here in Stockholm. A 750 metres swim

followed by five laps of four kilometres on two wheels for a 20 K

bike, and then a five kilometre run to finish off this penultimate stop

of the world triathlon series for 2014, before they cross the Atlantic

to head to the grand final in Edmonton. No tactics here. The only

tactic Richard Varga has gone for is to go flat out from the front. It

looks like he's trying to break the field early on. He is putting

distance between himself and the chasers, and they are having to work

so hard to stay with him. In the choppy conditions, they are looking

up far more than they normally would. Normally they would be

looking at the feet of the swimmer in front, trying to get onto him and

take the draft effect from that, today they are having to look up to

take the shortest line possible. Somebody getting caught on the loose

rope, and I wonder if Somebody getting caught on the loose

down to the conditions today. The loose rope thankfully not attached

to anything, otherwise somebody could have got anchored down there,

but it just came off the shoulder of the swimmer as they went through the

turn. Around the two giant inflatables as

turn. Around the two giant towards the starting point, with a

ferocious pace being injected into the first stage of this triathlon by

Richard Varga, the Slovakian, very much at home here.

Richard Varga, the Slovakian, very cold conditions. Just under eight

Richard Varga of Slovakia has led from start to finish. He makes this

final short left hand turn and then heads towards the ramp, which takes

him out of the water and back for heads towards the ramp, which takes

the short run back towards the transition area, where the bikes are

parked. We will get a transition area, where the bikes are

everybody's standings at the end of the 750 metres swim, as they come up

the steps and out of the water. Richard Varga, a little slip and a

slide as he starts to prepare for transition. I think it is Alistair

Brownlee who has come out in fourth place. They have a stiff climb over

the cobbled streets which have been carpeted up into transition. The

bike starts on an uphill. Richard Varga is leading Henri Schoeman

bike starts on an uphill. Richard Varga is leading Henri of South

Africa. It is Johnny Brownlee in fourth place and Alistair not far

behind. Both the Brownlee brothers are there or thereabouts. The

Olympic champion just arrives ahead of his brother at his bike park.

Johnny Brownlee in, putting on his helmet while stepping out of his wet

suit. There are lots of guys here. helmet while stepping out of his wet

Anthony Varga first to leave the transition. We are looking out for

Gomez Noya in Allred. Javier Gomez Noya, out of transition. We will get

a decent group Noya, out of transition. We will get

of 25 plus riders forming in the first lap. Richard Murray is not far

away. He has done well, Commonwealth bronze-medallist. He

has not let the swimmers get too far in front. The conditions set

themselves up for what could be a very dangerous ride. We have got

three breaking away already. Is it very dangerous ride. We have got

Richard Varga there as well? That is Alistair wearing number eight. It is

both the Brownlee brothers and their training partner Richard Varga. He

did the hard work in the water and the brothers are not far behind, it

is Varga and the Brownlee brothers leading on the first lap of five on

two wheels. Wet underfoot, they will need to mind their peas and queues

on the hairpin turns and thereafter three of them really on the course.

That is exactly the thing to do, work hard in transition and in the

first 200, 300 metres to get away from that huge mass of the pack

which can be dangerous. With three riders up there, they know each

which can be dangerous. With three and they will be working together to

put a lot of distance between themselves and the chasers. They

will turn here at City Hall having crossed the second bridge. They will

look at this massive group which has formed, the peloton if you like.

They will know exactly how far in front they are, roughly how far in

front when the groups cross over. They're rather three leaders heading

in the opposite direction. Varga is struggling to stay with the Brownlee

brothers, they have decided to not wait for the pack to catch them and

they move away from Richard Varga. We can see the chasers coming

through but the difficulty the big group will have coming through the

narrow roads and the corners, that has to slow them down if it is a

couple of seconds on each turn, that will grow and grow. The pure

logistics of trying to take place at the front and stay in a drafting

position is so much more difficult in a big group like this. Assuming

the Brownlees state upright, one of them will win this race, I think

that is a fair conclusion, even at this stage. Richard Murray is a long

way back, Mario Mola is a long way back. These

way back, Mario Mola is a long way they need to do and how dangerous it

is. A little bit of caution on the corners. More difficult to do in the

big pack, being aware of breaking and also of the other athletes. This

is just what we want to see because they train together, they race each

other. In this situation, they will work together, doing 20 turns at the

front, easing up, work together, doing 20 turns at the

comes through and they will work together all the way through this

bike section and it will be out for the hunting on the run. Javier Gomez

is in that group. That is him in about ninth position in the chasing

group at this stage, staying out of trouble with the World Triathlon

Series title just about wrapped up this season for Javier Gomez. He has

won in Auckland, Cape Town, Yokohama, Chicago. Gomez really does

not have anything to prove. The sprint distance is never his

favourite. He prefers the full Olympic distance and has not won a

sprint so far this season. He does not have to work too hard today

bearing in mind he has the Olympic distance finale in Edmonton next

weekend to seal the World Triathlon Series title for 2014. I think he is

maybe feeling a bit supported in the chasing group but also to an element

in the comfort zone because he will be confident in his running ability

and he does not need to work hard to chase down the Brownlees. That gap

has extended out to 17 seconds as become to the end of lap two. At the

end of lap one it was 14 seconds, at the end of lap to it will be

considerably more. The chasing group have yet to hit the client. Some

were close to 30 seconds -- hit the climb. They have just about doubled

their lead. 23 seconds in fact as they come up in front of Stockholm

Palace, passing the official residence of the King of Sweden. It

is a familiar sight. Two of the best in the world. Alistair is probably

the best in the world, the Olympic and Commonwealth champion, former

world champion. It remains to be seen if he continues to focus on

this World Triathlon Series which seen if he continues to focus on

crisscrosses the globe. He has made no secret of the fact that he is

unhappy with the mileage involved and the endless long haul flights

that it takes to compete in all of the Riise 's -- all of the races.

Maybe next year, we will see if his focus will be on defending his title

in the Olympics in Rio. He may take part in some of the races but I

don't think it will take his full attention and commitment. It is not

just the races of course, the majority of these athletes will be

involved in club situations, many of majority of these athletes will be

them competing in the European summer for French clubs. It takes

its toll. Alistair has made his decision. You are extending the

number of races, there are more qualifying races now and it is a big

decision. He said he likes to be fresh and rested. Raphael, one of

the strongest swimmers, keeping himself out of trouble at the back

of the pack. He has one of the Americans for company, Jefferson,

and another one of the Frenchman, Pujades is there as well. The

Brownlees stretched their lead to 23 second at the end of lap two, lap

three will conclude shortly and we expect it to be closer to 30 seconds

which will give them a comfortable conclusion to the bike with two laps

to go. The Brownlee brothers are taking no prisoners this afternoon

in Stockholm. We are looking back, Javier Gomez

does not seem to be enjoying the bike, he was 42 seconds down. What

if, what if, maybe we think, if he did not finish and lose the points

available, that would be very critical but what if he is a long

wait down in the pack? Johnny wants to go for it but he has raced

against his brother so many times, I don't think we have seen Alistair

backing off if there is an opportunity to win but we are

talking about the title. Does that produce another scenario? It does

and Jonathan can certainly close the gap on Gomez with a victory today.

As Alistair said, all it takes is one bad race and things can change.

Johnny will not have given up on the world title ambitions he has for

2014. If we look back to last year, one appalling race coming out of the

swim can change everything. We have seen Jorgensen in commanding

positions and then crashing out and it can change so quickly. Unusual

not to see Gomez at the front, we have become used to him being at the

front and attacking. Certainly different tactics today. The

brothers climb up the hill for the panel to much time, taking the bell

with one lap to go. Jonathan crosses the line first, Alistair his older

brother in second, the chasing group nowhere to be seen, still on their

way back over the bridge towards the Stockholm Palace. 38 seconds at the

end of number three. It will be climbing even further now. It really

has become two races now, it is Brownlee against roundly and the

rest of the world fighting it out for the bronze medal. -- Brownlee

against Brownlee. It is 46 seconds officially at the end of lap four.

What an effort from the Brownlee brothers, from 14 seconds after lap

one up to 40 seconds -- 46 seconds. Magnificent riding.

The brothers are not letting up at all, looking the more pace over the

last lap. How do they attack this run going out together, knowing they

will have a significant lead? We have become used to seeing Alistair

and Johnny Brownlee and Javier have become used to seeing Alistair

being prepared to put the hammer down for the first step on the run,

attack and attack. In this situation, perhaps Alistair and

Johnny don't need to do that so will there be a change in tactics? If

Johnny Brownlee needs these points, his brother will not give him

anything, does he go for it early? He has not had a World Triathlon

Series win in 2014. Alistair has had one, Jonathan has been runner-up to

Gomez, in Auckland and again in Cape Town, he finished fifth in Yokohama

and fifth again over the sprint distance in London. And third behind

Alistair and Vincent Luis in hamburg after that sensational sprint

finish. Today he will be wanting to put things right and get his first

win of the season and head into the grand final in Edmonton with a

chance, an outside chance, of overhauling the lead of Javier Gomez

in the rankings. The man he has to beat it is older brother and the

competitive edge they have between them as a family is extraordinary.

Alistair is never particularly them as a family is extraordinary.

to Johnny when it comes to sprint finishes, he always wants to beat

his younger brother. He is leading them here over the final stages of

lap five, they will arrive in them here over the final stages of

transition together, it'll be a race between the for victory in

Stockholm. The final little out and back here towards the Swedish

parliament building and the run for home. Raphael still camped out at

the back of the peloton. He has done his work in the water. He has been

on the tow for the majority of this 20 Lamah to ride. We started with a

750-metre swim, the 20 kilometre bike ride is coming to its

conclusion and the race will be won and lost after a five kilometre

run, the exciting sprint format of the World Triathlon Series being

employed here in Stockholm, as it was in London and in hamburg. The

brothers are preparing for transition, the feet are

brothers are preparing for shoes and resting gently on top of

the pedals. They get to the dismount line and hop off simultaneously,

synchronised transition for Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee. They have got

to get this bit right, Johnny looks pretty relaxed running up the blue

carpet towards his allotted stand where he will need to park his bike

and need to make sure his helmet find the plaque stick box, getting

his running shoes on quickly and smoothly -- plastic box. They will

leave pretty close together but Jonathan just steals march on his

brother and Alistair has to head uphill to try to close the gap as

Johnny heads out of transition, the younger brother first to break as

the pack arrives. They are clipping their shoes and getting ready for

transition. Javier Gomez coming up the hill towards the transition

area. 46 seconds was the difference at the end of lap four, it has grown

even further, 54 seconds by that time they conclude the 20 kilometre

ride. You can never say never but almost a minute, they has to be

uncatchable. Gomez had a fairly easy bike section. Will he attack from

the front? There is Richard Murray, again in front of his compatriot

Henri Schoeman. Richard Murray against Javier Gomez could be the

one to watch. Jonathan Brownlee is leading Alistair Brownlee. They are

moving on at quite a pace here. they going to back off because they

were in they going to back off because they

could? That doesn't seem to have happened. Jonathan Brownlee

could? That doesn't seem to have like a startled pair at the start of

that run. -- like a startled hare. like a startled pair at the start of

The situation we have seen so many times, the two brothers from Leeds

in contention to take this victory. They are running a five-minute mile,

that is a tremendous pace, that would be well under 30 minutes if it

were a full ten kilometre race. He's just holding his arm, asking the

driver camera combination to ease off and get out of his way. No one

else inside. -- no one else in sight. Where is

Gomez? Gomez isn't there. Certainly Richard Murray was in that... There

is Mario Mola coming through. There is Tom Bishop. Javier Gomez Noya is

a bit slow to react is Tom Bishop. Javier Gomez Noya is

a after transition. Now slowly making their way through the field.

Gomez I have to say is further down than I would have anticipated in

this situation. A big performance by Tom Bishop there. But how quickly

that chasing pack has just stretched and stretched. We know Richard

Murray was up there, in the lead three, chasing the two Brownlees.

The world number one Javier Gomez of Spain is in about ninth or 10th

position. From Ponte Vedra, keen surfer, decent guitarist. Ponte

Vedra just north of the border with Portugal. As the Brownlee brothers

bounce along, coming up towards 50 minutes since the race began. They

are halfway through the run. They climbed the cobbles. Jonathan and

Alistair Brownlee are just about shoulder to shoulder, as they come

past the bikes they left just a few minutes ago. Alistair takes up first

position for the first time. They take the bell. 2.5 kilometre to run.

Gomez with work to do. He has got Wilson of Australia not far behind

him. That... Henri Schoeman just behind. The leaders of the chase

group. Gregor Buchholz coming through for Germany, and Anthony

Pujades from France. Richard Murray, the reputation of the

strongest runner, but in very different conditions today. 59

seconds is different conditions today. 59

brothers and the next best, at the end of Lap 1. BELL

Now some of the other main end of Lap 1. BELL

contenders coming through, as Mario Mola tries to kick away from Joao

Pereira, coming up the hill. Dodds of New Zealand. Tom Bishop from

Great Britain. And Javier Gomez, the world number one, struggling in

these dreadful conditions in Stockholm this afternoon. It looked

like a bit of a stretch there from Jonathan. Alistair

like a bit of a stretch there from covering. Alistair just seems to be

working covering. Alistair just seems to be

to be relaxed at the moment, but of course, as we always say,

appearances can be so deceptive. Again, I think Richard Murray is

looking to attack. He still stays there. Despite Richard Murray trying

to attack twice now, not making any inroads at all on this final lap.

So, Richard Murray is third. Gregor Buchholz of Germany is in fourth

place. Anthony Pujades is in fifth place. Someone is about to join

them, is it Joao Pereira of Portugal? He fancies being a part of

this race, Joao Pereira. What an effort from him to bridge the gap

from six all the way up to join these three who are battling it out

to third place. Now we have men pushing for third place in Stockholm

here this afternoon. -- now we have four men pushing for third place.

Now goes Mario Mola. Mario Mola now trying to join these four. The three

become for, and the four become five. It looks like there will be a

five way sprint for bronze position -- third position and the bronze

medal here in Stockholm. Mario Mola has tasted success in the Sprint or

rent -- sprint event already in London so far this season. It is

minor places, it is between the brothers for the win, as Jonny takes

the hairpin and moves away from Alistair, as they come out of the

turn. Just injecting a bit of pace. That slingshot effect we see so

often in triathlon, and it was used wisely thereby Jonny Brownlee. We

will see if it has been a significant move as we head back to

the leaders shortly. Meanwhile we have got Murray, Joao Pereira,

Gregor Buchholz, Anthony Pujades, and Mario Mola. Alistair had that

break covered. Alistair glanced over to see where Javier Gomez was, and

while he took his mind off the task in hand, Jonathan Brownlee moved

away. And Brownlee Junior has a lead of about a second over Brownlee

senior. The impact of that move, almost came to a dead stop going

past the tight turn. That was the time to do it. It was covered and

now it seems that Jonathan has made another move. This is now give away

victory to his brother. In front of the Stockholm Palace, Jonathan

Brownlee is leading Alistair Brownlee. They will make the Turn 1

more time and climb the carpet, and it looks as if victory will go to

Jonathan Brownlee, unless Alistair can claw it back over the final few

metres. Jonathan Brownlee will take his first World Triathlon Series

victory of the season, over the sprint distance here, in Stockholm.

He picks up the union flag. Alistair will have to settle for second this

afternoon. And at last Jonny Brownlee can celebrate. The

runner-up in Glasgow wins in Stockholm. It is a reversal of the

positions that they achieved in the Commonwealth Games, as Alistair

comes home for second place in the Stockholm sprint. Jonathan Brownlee

wins, Alistair Brownlee second. The battle continues for third, with

Mario Mola, Richard Murray, Joao Pereira. Gregor Buchholz of Germany

is the first to find the carpet and moves ahead, looking for third.

Murray isn't far-away. Mario Mola might still have something to offer

here. But it is Gregor Buchholz who seems to have the uphill power

towards the finish. Gregor Buchholz of Germany, looks like he will

finish in third place in the Stockholm sprint. Gregor Buchholz

almost home, one final effort from Richard Murray but it is not enough.

Gregor Buchholz wins, Mario Mola in fourth place, and Murray relegated

to fifth, ahead of Joao Pereira, and Anthony Pujades finishing in

seventh. Confirmation of the final results in Stockholm. The first win

of the season for Jonathan Brownlee, with his older brother Alister in

second. -- his older brother Alistair.

Congratulations on your first win in more than a year. Yes, it has been a

nine time -- long time. It is nice to win. I enjoyed it, it was pure

racing. It was great, I was loving it, enjoying flying around those

corners. There is no better feeling, we knew they were not going

to catch us, and it was perfect. I think we were in our element. We

tried to keep it safe and just put in a good consistent bit of riding,

and it was perfect today. Brilliant race, really enjoyed it. We were

really curious about how it would end, could it be a sprint finish?

Tell us about the run. My feet were literally white! You will never hear

me complaining about being cold again, but I was too cold going into

the run. I had to close that five second gap, use a lot to close

that. I was running all right but I knew I didn't have a massive kick in

my legs are so when he sped up, I just didn't have it. I did think

here we go again, I'm going to get off the bike and be shattered like I

was at the Commonwealth Games, and Alistair is going to get away from

me again. I enjoyed it. The good news is you could still win the

world title. You have put yourself in that position today. I didn't

want Javier Gomez to get in the top three, ideally. The pack behind with

lots of other fast runners in meant it was going to be very difficult

for him to get in the top three. But Javier is still favourite. Chances

are he will finish in the top three like yield ways does. Tell us why

you pulled up, is it tactical or are you injured? I just had a feud

problems. -- a few problems. I was focused to try to have a good race

still but I felt tired and my stomach wasn't good. I wasn't going

to make the top four or better, so it didn't make sense to keep going.

I will just try to recover for next week. Training was not very good the

past four weeks, and I need to recover. I hope it is not anything

to back and I can recover next week. With one race to go, it is tight at

the top. I would say that was a near-perfect

race. It is almost time for the women to take centre stage here, but

before that happens let's remind ourselves of two outstanding English

performances in the Scottish Sun a few weeks ago.

The highest ranked triathlete in the race today, Jodie Stimpson,

controlling the pace of the race. Stimpson goes away, is that gold

medal safe? Final effort from Jodie Stimpson, as she moves clear! And

Jodie Stimpson wins the first gold of the games! And it will be bronze

for the Nikki Holland. What a finish.

And the medals just keep on coming for the Brits. The youth Olympics,

the Loughborough youngster showed great maturity coming from behind to

the Loughborough youngster showed just beat Daniel Hyde from New

Zealand to the line. Sian finished in third place. Great to see

Zealand to the line. Sian finished Britain's juniors doing so well on

global stage. Back to the seniors here in Stockholm. Commonwealth

champion Jodie Stimpson is just about to warm up in the water.

Yesterday I caught up with her over breakfast to get her views on the

treat, breakfast with a Commonwealth treat, breakfast with a Commonwealth

champion. I had a word with your coach beforehand to ask you what I

should lay out and he said need to go to the loo in the race!

Touch wood, it solved my stomach issues. Hopefully it will continue.

The hard work has been done, the months and years of training, and

the gold medal coming her way now. Gold to Stimpson. What did becoming

Commonwealth champion mean to you? It meant so much. It was my goal for

so long. Being able to achieve it the way that I did was amazing, it

is hard to put into words how much it meant. What was the reception

like when you got back home? It is brilliant, my house was decorated, a

big gold medal on the window, it was brilliant to share it with my family

and friends. What is the attention like that comes with winning the

Commonwealth Games? It is obviously nice and I wouldn't turn away from

it. It is nice for people to see the achievements. But it is not what

brings me back to triathlon, it is that feeling of getting onto the

podium and looking to the grandstand and seeing your family there looking

at you and that proud moment. You have become such a local celebrity,

you had an event named after you! Yes, it was just before I went back

onto camp, it was brilliant, I raced it, I was not going to let them half

all the fun! It was brilliant. How hard was it to get back into

training after the games? That was quite a challenge. It is nice going

into the final two races with less pressure but I want to finish the

season well. On the other side, my main goal was the Commonwealth Games

so a big tick on that front but I want to finish well. It has been a

cruise in the end the Jorgensen, she will take her fourth straight World

Triathlon Series Victor Riu. To become world champion you are

relying on Gwen Jorgensen not racing well at the grand final. I cannot

control her, how fast those legs go on the run but I can control what I

do. She is a fantastic athlete, she is the one to beat but I will go out

and give it my best shot. Going into Hamburg, Helen Jenkins had been the

nearest rival to Jorgensen but the foot injury she sustained in Germany

meant her season was over. No Commonwealth Games and no chance of

becoming world champion for a third time. As far Gwen, her form has been

so red-hot this season, with four back-to-back wins in Yokohama,

Chicago, London and Hamburg, the World Championship is hers to lose.

As we saw last year in London, anything can happen. Without her in

Stockholm, if Stimpson can follow up with another win today, she will

keep the pressure on but to actually steal the title away, Jodie would

need to win in Edmonton and rely on Gwen finishing outside the top seven

in Canada. Although when, Helen and Helen Jackson are missing today,

Jodie is not without competition. Lining up alongside her is the

common wealth games silver-medallist Kirsten Sweetland and Sarah Groff of

the USA. Back to Matt and Steve. COMMENTATOR: The penultimate event

of the World Triathlon Series for 2014 for the women, eight sprint in

Stockholm. The weather has improved since the men's race but they still

dive into a freshening headwind. One or two getting jostled out of

position in the early stages. A single lap in the water, cool

conditions, 15 degrees water temperature so wet suits compulsory

and they will go out and make the turn, head back to the far end of

the pontoon before climbing up the stairs towards transition to pick up

their bikes for the 20 kilometre cycle around the city centre and a

five kilometre run. Jodie Stimpson wearing number one should be

somewhere close to the bottom left as we pick her up in the early

stages. 31, always a strong swimmer is Carolina Routier of Spain,

stages. 31, always a strong swimmer girlfriend of Mario Mola who was in

the men's competition earlier. She is forcing the pace on this

nearside. The wind has dropped off significantly. The return leg

towards the pontoon will be pretty quick I would imagine with the wind

behind them. So far this season, Jodie Stimpson has had an excellent

campaign, winning the first round in Auckland in April and backing that

up with victory in Cape Town. Then Gwen Jorgensen started to hit her

stride, winning in Yokohama, the sprint in London, winning again in

Chicago and made it four in a row with victory in Hamburg and another

sprint, the most recent race on the circuit. Stimpson and Jorgensen have

shared all of the World Triathlon Series wins so far this season.

Sarah Groff has been the second best American behind the fast running

Jorgensen and in the absence of her compatriot, she will be hoping for

potentially her best result of the season. She was fourth in Cape

Town, second in London in the sprint behind Jorgensen. She will be hoping

to be up there with Jodie Stimpson at the end of this race as they make

the turn by the giant inflatable. Everybody will have to watch out,

especially those on the inside, a few loose chords getting in the way

but they have negotiated the first part of the turn. And already a big

stretch in these swimmers. 330 metres to go, across the top end and

heading back now, just one lap of the swim. As we sort with the men's

race earlier, critical that you get into a good position to enable

yourself to get up there on this difficult twisting and turning bike

course. Hopefully the very wet conditions of the men's race we will

not see again and it will be easier for bike handling on these narrow

roads. And I wonder if the helicopter will be able to go up and

give us some aerial shots which were sadly absent in the men's race

because of the heavy weather. Carolina Routier of Spain leads the

way here. One final gentle left-hand turn before they had to negotiate

the steep steps out of the water onto the blue carpet of the pontoon

before jogging towards transition. As they do so, they will start to

remove their swim caps and release the zips on the wet suits to be

ready for a smooth arrival and departure on two wheels from

transition. Solid swim from Carolina Routier, just under nine and three

court minutes as she steps out and starts to prepare but plenty of

company for her including the two Americans, Groff and Katie Hursey.

Alice Betto, Charlotte Bonin, Sara Vilic, Kirsten Sweetland also there,

a lot in quick succession as they Vilic, Kirsten Sweetland also there,

transition. No signs yet Vilic, Kirsten Sweetland also there,

Stimpson. She was not with that first group coming out. That is the

first surprise of the afternoon. Very important because Kirsten

Sweetland, who was runner-up in the common love games, has had an

excellent swim, just eight seconds down. -- Commonwealth Games. Lucy

Hall looking strong as always, there is Carolina Routier in the red of

Spain and we can see Sara Vilic as well but still no sign of Jodie

Stimpson which is a surprise. The Italians, Alice Betto and Charlotte

Bonin, Sara Croft as well. Yet to step out of the wet suit -- Sarah

Groff. There is Kirsten Sweetland, the Canadian who was

silver-medallist behind Jodie Stimpson at Glasgow. We will keep

our eyes open for Stimpson. She was noticeably slow in the water. I

think I just spotted her sprinting up the carpet, trying to close some

ground but she has clearly left herself some work to do. She finds

her way to her bike but stumbles slightly coming out of her wet

suit, watching the others head off into the distance. She has picked up

her two wheels and she is on her way. As they sort themselves out, we

will get a full check in a moment or two as to who is in this front group

of what I think is six. They need to be careful, it is still pretty

slippery. Carolina Routier and Sarah Groff from Spain and the United

States respectively. Croft gets her head down and tries to pick up the

speed -- Groff. Katie Hursey was also in the leaders. Perhaps she and

Sarah Groff can form a working American partnership and do some

damage. We have Lucy Hall up there in third place at the moment. Lucy

made a big effort at the Commonwealth Games to get away by

herself on the bike, she is a very strong individual. Watching her move

to the front, of course last year Alistair Brownlee sprinted away from

the lead pack on the bike which nobody was expecting and perhaps

Lucy has it in her mind to look at that. Back with the chasers, we can

see... Any big movements? Still looking for Jodie Stimpson.

Important that she gets back into the lead pack. Clarke could not get

her feet positioned in the pedals. Going back to the front, this is

Carolina Routier of Spain taking it up, the pack at the front has grown

to about eight in number with one or two is attempting to bridge the gap

and get amongst the leaders. Jodie Stimpson will have that project

and get amongst the leaders. Jodie her mind as well coming from a

little way behind. We have Lucy Hall, Kirsten

Sweetland, Sarah Groff. Two of what we thought would be the three big

names challenging together with Jodie Stimpson of Great Britain.

Nicky Samuels had a strong swim, looking for Andrea Hewitt of New

Zealand as well. Charlotte Bonin from Italy is in second position at

this stage and the Italians also had the 30 close by, she is a decent

swimmer -- the Italians also had the 30 close by, she is a decent

Mazzetti. We are still relying on the motorcycle camera pictures in

the early stages. The group is growing all the time at the front.

It is ten and number 11 is not far behind. A group of potentially a

dozen or so. There is Jodie Stimpson. She is slightly detached,

she is pushing a pretty big gear, clearly hoping to close the gap. She

has Jolanda Annen for company. She is in that big gear, chasing hard

and determined to re-establish contact but chasing behind what I

think is a second group. That will be very hard to bridge. Picking back

up here at the front. Here we go. be very hard to bridge. Picking back

Lucy Hall still up there at the front. Lucy Hall of Great Britain in

second position at the moment. It is Kirsten Sweetland leading with Lucy

Hall working hard to get on her wheel. Very strong, Kirsten

Sweetland, we saw that at the Commonwealth Games and in the World

Triathlon Series. Anja Knapp behind Lucy Hall as well. Kirsten Sweetland

first across the line at the end of lap one. A group of ten or so and

this is the gap back to Jodie Stimpson who has broken clear of

Jolanda Annen. Stimpson still working on her foot position in the

shoes as well, she has a lot of work to do, and you are right, she is

behind the second group, not the leaders. The chasers come up the

hill, Kovacs, Chelsea Burns, McShane from Hungary, USA and Australia. And

then Jodie Stimpson, a further ten seconds off that group, nearly a

minute behind the leaders. Jodie Stimpson with a real mountain to

climb as she grips her teeth and comes past the palace in Stockholm.

Your Annan is unable to match her for speed. -- Jolanda Annen. Hewitt

and Clarke of New Zealand, Lucy Hall is the best position of the British

triathletes at the moment, showing real prowess in the water. Now we

will follow directly the hind the leading group. -- directly behind.

Katie Hursey of the USA just bringing up the rear.

where Jodie Stimpson was aiming. They can eyeball the leaders heading

in the opposite direction. It is quite a significant gap. There

in the opposite direction. It is Stimpson, just going through. She

has a lot of work to do. She knows she's going to have to give it

everything on the bike. It is not just about winning this race today,

it is about giving Jodie Stimpson a fighting chance going into the grand

final in Edmonton next weekend. Jonathan Brownlee's victory in the

men's race has ensured that it will no longer be a dead rubber, the race

in Edmonton. It will be a race for the world title between Jonny

Brownlee and Gomez. Stimpson will hope to keep the women's world title

race alive, but she is a long way off featuring that today. Nicky

Samuels, a bunch of riders grouped within two seconds of each other

there. About to begin the climb. Let's see just how close Jodie

Stimpson has managed to get to this big chase group. I think Aileen Reid

is there as well. That looks like Jodie Stimpson coming through, so

she is making inroads. The gap down to 42 seconds between the lead group

and the chase group. It would appear that Jodie Stimpson has just caught

up by a few seconds. We will get Stimpson's official margin here, as

she awaits the timing. Stimpson is 52, that is where it was, so now

that difference between -- time difference between Lap 1 and Lap 2.

The difference for Stimpson is that she has managed to catch the

chasers, and she is still just under a minute off the leaders.

chasers, and she is still just under Stimpson normally up there at the

end of the swim but today she found herself off the pace. She's having a

go now, trying to close the gap. It is tough to see that Stimpson, on a

shorter sprint distance, can come through and win the race. I wonder

if that will hand the World Triathlon Series title away, with

the race in Edmonton to come next week. Stimpson has left herself an

awful lot to do. She has been in great shape this year. She has

learnt and improved so much over the past couple of years, particularly

with her swimming technique, and her running is superb. Jodie Stimpson

still not re-establishing contact. Again I question whether something

happened out there in the swim to put her in this very unusual

position. Just ahead of her, Kirsten Sweetland of Canada. The fear Kovacs

of . -- Sophia Kovacs of Hungary.

Natalie Milne on the right for Great Britain. She is middle order in this

chase group as well. Milne 's number 38 today. Are we going to see any

chase group as well. Milne 's number changes on this? Are we going to see

Jodie Stimpson get back into the changes on this? Are we going to see

second pack? Very changes on this? Are we going to see

sprint distance race, time and distance are running out on the bike

section. A group of 11 at the front of the field as they head towards

the building for the turn, just in front of the Swedish government

the building for the turn, just in premises. And we have something

going on here premises. And we have something

Zealand. She came to a grinding halt. Everyone was forced to put the

brakes on Possibly a bit of help for Joni

Stimpson to re-establish contact there, possibly with Ackerman going

to wide on the turn and into the barriers. Didn't crash but certainly

will have slowed her down. 48 seconds still the difference

will have slowed her down. 48 Stimpson is still a little way off

the chasers. There she Stimpson is still a little way off

same stretch of road as the chasers, and she will arrive in front of the

pond they few seconds behind the second group. Kirsten Sweetland

pushes in hard for the tail end of lap number three. They will climb

for the third time towards the top of the hill and the end of the third

lap. Kirsten Sweetland and Samuels. Eighth place, Clark. Ninth, Lindsey

Jerdonek. At the end of Lap 2, the gap between the leaders and Jodie

Stimpson was 52 seconds. I can't see it being that much difference

between the end of Lap 2 and the end of Lap 3, to be honest. Jody within

a couple of seconds now of getting back in contact. We have got this

climb which I think will help Jodie. The athletes will be watching out

for each other by the transition, giving Jodie an opportunity to get

back in the chase group. The gap between the leaders and chasers is

49 seconds. The gap between the leaders and Jodie Stimpson is beyond

52 seconds now. She has lost a bit of time, but she has just about

caught the chasers. Now the rain is coming again, an umbrella is up

around the course. That dark clouds were threatening and now they are

delivering the precipitation that every rider fears. It can become

rapidly slippery underfoot, under the rubber wheels. Lucy Hall is

leading again, into one of the few long straight ways on the course.

And it looks like we are down to nine now, with Katie Hursey

struggling at the back. It seems there is a gap appearing now. Katie

Hursey has been touted as the next great thing within American

triathlon, but so far she has not quite backed it up with results. She

has started a couple of races pretty well, she started this one pretty

well, now starting to drift. Once again the rain distorts our view of

the back of the leading group. The chase group hunting down the

leaders. Let's see how much headway Jodie

leaders. Let's see how much headway chase group. She is in about six or

seven position in that group. I think it is Natalie Milne pushing

out in front of the chase group. Here we are on the lead group.

Kirsten Sweetland wearing number three, right behind and

-- behind Anja Knapp. Another downpour. They are already soaked to

the skin and now they will get another drenching for good measure.

Samuels hits the Bell first. another drenching for good measure.

Hursey is the one struggling to maintain pace. The leaders on their

way on their final lap. Meanwhile the chasers have still got the back

end of Lap 4 to complete. Now with the weather really setting in, that

chase group just stretching out and the athletes taking a bit more

care, a bit more caution as they are going round corners.

That is Vendula Frintova, as we go up the hill. It has grown

substantially, the chase group. Another ten seconds, the gap between

the leaders and the chasers. The end of lap for, it is now one minute and

two seconds. -- lap four. Natalie Milne

two seconds. -- lap four. Natalie lose contact. And perhaps an

injection of pace in this chase group now, because that has really

stretched right the way through. Jailing and slander is in that group

from South Africa, currently based in London. I would suggest that this

is shaping up for a battle between Andrea Hewitt, Kirsten Sweetland and

Sarah Groff. The change from two wheels to a 5,000-metre foot race.

Under -- five kilometres to ride. Those three all featuring in this

lead group and it is cautious, sensibly so, as they make the last

hairpin bend and then head back towards the final lap. Charlotte

Bonin of Italy struggling in the conditions. Similar to how it was in

the men's race earlier this afternoon. Interesting, Sarah Groff

just seems to be staying slightly to the side of this pack now. Looking

to keep out of trouble, counting down the few remaining metres to go.

Getting towards the very end of the bike section. There is Sarah Groff,

just in front of Carolina Routier. She doesn't want to see the

possibility of a rider coming down just in front of her at this late

stage, on the bike. Going a bit wide on the turn, don't

want to go to wide and take the risk of the back wheel falling away in

the wet conditions. And now more and more emphasis on caution. Now we

have got through almost the full 20 kilometres, beginning to anticipate

the run. Well, for a long time it was a group of 11. It is now down to

ten. Katie Hursey unable to match the pace. Sarah Groff will really

fancy her chances now, heading into the 5,000-metre run. Along with

Sarah, I think Kirsten Sweetland has really developed her running from

what was already a very good standard. Just so close and so far.

She may well have a mechanical problem there, because you wouldn't

have expected her to be spinning that easy a gear, it wouldn't feel

right. Possibly the weather conditions, if you have some grit in

the chain well. Kirsten Sweetland very dynamic in this group, keeping

the speed up. Must be feeling confident in her running after that

renders performance in Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games. Sarah

Groff, who perhaps had a down season last year and has really come back

to the very top level now. Jodie Stimpson sitting in, I think, second

place, beginning to force it a little. Yeah, Stimpson just sitting

in behind. This is the chase group. Going back for the conclusion of the

final lap. The leaders will make their turn on foot. They hit the

dismount line which is at the bottom of the Cobble Hill, and then they

climb towards their allotted stands, up the hill, led by Nicky

Samuels and Andrea Hewitt and Sarah Groff. Sweetland of Canada. Andrea

Hewitt arrives on stand. Sweetland follows quickly. A good transition

from Sarah Groff, Anja Knapp matching her stride for stride with

the rest being catch up. Great grand vision -- great transition the

Groff. Looking back at Kirsten Sweetland, very fast indeed, almost

looks to be sprinting out. We will see what happens with the lead

group. At the moment, that gap has stretched out more and more over the

final lap. One minute and ten seconds now, that will be

extraordinarily hard to close down. Jodie Stimpson being very careful as

she pushes her bike, she had an accident doing that in Yokohama

earlier in the season, she tripped over her bike and injured her leg.

Massive time difference with only five kilometres to run through the

field, Jodie Stimpson will not be winning here in Stockholm this

afternoon. If she is watching this from afar, Gwen Jorgensen will be

starting to relax a little bit heading into the final race of the

series in Edmonton next weekend. Groff was in and out like a flash

and the others were left a little dazed as they watched her move

gracefully out of the carpeted area and onto the first lap of two in the

run. Sweetland is trying to close the gap but it was Jerdonek who was

first to react and now Sarah Groff decides to inject some extra pace as

she moves clear of her fellow American Lindsey Jerdonek. Sarah

Groff has made a real statement this early on. I was almost anticipating

that she would sit there with the first group on the first lap and

possibly make a move on the second lap at she has decided to go for it

from the start and to put that kind of distance between herself and

Kirsten Sweetland in third place... Jodie Stimpson going through towards

the front of the chasing pack. She is running for pride as much as

anything, determined to chase down. Wearing number one, currently ranked

second in the world. Looking to see how many people she can break

through from the chasing group. Sarah Groff is leading, Sweetland in

second, Hewitt passed Jerdonek into third, she can be a slow burner in

the run. She can take a while to find her speed and sometimes you

think she is broken and beaten. Then she gets her second wind. Andrea

Hewitt has been so consistent over a number of years, she has had ten

podium placings which is exceptional, the consistency is

there. Kirsten Sweetland is looking strong, seems to be closing down on

the leader Sarah Groff. Lucy Hall struggling a little bit. Sarah Groff

is looking so strong now and if anything she is moving away from her

pursuers. Back on the flat, open ground, knowing she is within six

minutes of finishing the race. Sweetland covers yet again, Hewitt

working hard. I think they are maintaining that gap and that

consistency. Sarah Groff, a real nature lover, she has a degree in

conservation biology, a very team ornithologist. -- keen. She has been

overshadowed, her generally consistent results in the American

set up overshadowed by the epic performances of Gwen Jorgensen but

in the absence of Jorgensen here in Stockholm, Groff is leading them

home and the job is almost done. Is there any movement from the three

hind who look bunched for a battle for second and third? Hewitt of New

Zealand, Sweetland of Canada, Samuels of New Zealand. It is Groff

of the USA who is leading the World Series in Stockholm. It looks like

we have a slight surge from Sarah Groff. If anything, moving a couple

of extra metres away from her pursuers. Andrea Hewitt and Kirsten

Sweetland just exchanging the lead position in this group, Nicky

Samuels seems content to stay in fourth place overall. Just

approaching the big roundabout turn around and that will give Sarah

Groff a good indication of how much other lead she has got and whether

she can maintain it over the last few hundred metres to the finish.

She will take the hairpin and will return in the other direction with a

great idea of just how significant her lead is. Hewitt, Sweetland and

Samuels turn, Groff looks in no danger at all of surrendering her

lead, she is cruising along here. If there is to be a closing of the gap,

it needs a surge because if Sarah Groff has that gap, however fast the

Sprint might be from her chasers, it will not close. With less than 800

metres to go, she is moving away from her pursuers. The last 750

metres of the race for Sarah Groff to hold on and take her first World

Triathlon Series victory. She had to settle for second behind Gwen

Jorgensen in Hyde Park in London in May. In the absence of Jorgensen and

a misfiring Jodie Stimpson this afternoon, Groff has taken

advantage. Meanwhile, Hewitt and Sweetland along with Samuels who

looks to be fading slightly, they are locked in combat for the other

medals. Actually, Samuels looks to be digging deep and may

but Sweetland and Hewitt look more comfortable. Samuel is not giving

this up. A big move by Nicky Samuels, she moved away and covered

it. What will we see in the final stage? We know we will see the

leader coming through. Sarah Groff has performed beautifully this

afternoon, her timing has been exquisite, there is a move on behind

for second and third. Hewitt is moving clear of Samuels and

Sweetland cannot stay with them. The New Zealanders will battle it out

for the medals but victory in Stockholm will go to Sarah Groff of

the United States of America! At last she wins a World Triathlon

Series race, Andrea Hewitt finishes in second, Nicky Samuels makes it

two Kiwis on the podium in third and Kirsten Sweetland is out of the

medals here in fourth place. One hour and three minutes exactly for

Sarah Groff to win the World Triathlon Series in Stockholm.

Lindsey Jerdonek turned 30 yesterday, she finishes in fifth

position. Meanwhile, they come through with Anja Knapp the first of

the Germans to finish. Andrei -- Anja Knapp sprinting

home, sixth place for her. We will find out shortly how much time and

how many places Jodie Stimpson was able to recover during the run. Lucy

Hall has done well, Charlotte Bonin finishing in eighth, it is

Hall has done well, Charlotte Bonin for Lucy Hall, I think that is her

first World Triathlon Series top ten of the series as they come home

thick and fast. Stimson comes home a way adrift of the leaders down in

16th position, one minute and 21 off the pace. The first ever World

Triathlon Series win for Sarah Groff, beating Andrea Hewitt by four

seconds, Nicky Samuels finished third. Lucy Hall was the best of the

British triathletes today, finishing in ninth. Jodie Stimpson came home

in 16th. Gwen Jorgensen is still leading the series standings

comfortably, Sarah Groff has leapfrogged Jodie Stimpson into

second position overall. I got battered in the swim, I wasn't too

far off, I think I could have caught the front group. But on the first

bend, the South African girl went into the back of my wheel and her

handlebars got locked into my back wheel so it was catch up for the

second group and not the first group. It was quite hard! I would

like to think I am like a fine wine and get better with age! I lost

pretty much all of June and hamburger was a bit rough but it is

nice to have a consistent year and be back racing at a better level

Best hamburger -- hamburger. The Sprint finish, I got there in

the end. I came out of the water a bit back and had a hard first lap on

the bike. It paid off at the end. When it started to rain, you get

tentative around the corners. Everybody gets a bit more cautious

but it can play into our hands, the Brits, we are all quite handy on the

bike and confident. The Brits, we are all quite handy on the

played into our hands. You did your best and you still have an outside

chance of being world champion. I will take the Commonwealth Games and

we will give the series ago! It was a hard day but one more race to go

so hopefully I will end better than that. What have you learned from

your best result ever? You cross the line, you think I could have done

this or that better come athletes always want to be number one and get

to the top. My run is coming on and I am happy with how it is

progressing but at the same time I was disappointed with the second

lap. I tightened up a bit, I could feel my shoulders rolling but I am

happy and I will go away happy. It was not Jodie Stimpson's date but

always fantastic to see a new winner. Lovely to see the Brownlees

making full use of their Commonwealth Games form and younger

brother Johnny outrunning Alistair to take top spot. That is seven

events down, want to go into seven days time, the 2014 World Triathlon

Series grand final in Edmonton and as well as that action from Canada

there are lot of other Olympic sports to enjoy in the next few

days. The brothers showing the way once

again. It is simply stunning! A wonderful performance. Geraint

Thomas, what a superb victory! It is a golden floor routine!

After their most successful European games ever, British athletes are

back on home soil will stop you can see the Birmingham Grand Prix on BBC

Two from 2:30pm tomorrow afternoon and on Monday there are highlights

of the European swimming Championships in Burlington. -- in

Berlin. We are back next weekend with extensive coverage of the grand

final of the 2014 World Triathlon Series. Both races will be live on

the BBC red button. That brings our time here in Stockholm to an end.

Thank you for your company, joiners again next weekend for the climax of

the season in Edmonton -- join us.