Abu Dhabi Highlights Triathlon: World Series

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Mola reigns supreme here in

Australia.

Winning leads again, Alistair

Brownlee. The Australians are the

champions of the world.

champions of the world. Mola wins in

Edmonton. Jonathan Brownlee back to

his brilliant best.

And absolutely stupendous

performance.

Hello and welcome to the first of

this year's world triathlon series,

and if the competition is anything

like last year, we have a real treat

in store for you. Triathlon's elite

have descended on the normally warm

and dry Abu Dhabi. I am here with

Annie Emerson outside of the cold

and freezing temperatures. Here is

what we have for you this afternoon.

We bring you extended highlights of

the men's and women's race as an

all-star cast look to get their

season off to a flyer. Non Stanford

says she is looking forward to

putting the past couple of years

behind her.

I do realise that for

the Olympics is in the end of the

world, and I will hopefully be able

to rectify that.

Our very own Annie

catches up with Tom Bishop.

How long

in here?

Another 40 minutes on the

bike, then 35 and it's on the

treadmill.

And the Commonwealth

Games will soon be upon us. We take

a look at who will rival the home

nations on the Gold Coast. Welcome.

We have so much to look forward to

this season. Lots of developments

since last season as well. Let's

start with those. How VA Gomez.

He

is sitting out the championships

this year, he is focusing on

qualifying for the Ironman in Kona

this year. He wasn't going for the

title last year, he dipped in and

out, and did very well when he did,

but we were seeing in this year on

the triathlon circuit.

And Gwen

Jorgensen, a change for her.

That is

a change forever, I can see why she

has done it. She has been double

World Championship, got gold at the

Olympic Games.

So she is going to

marathon?

She is moving to marathon

running, and we know how strong she

is. When you train for triathlon,

the beauty of it is you have the

diversity of the three sports, but

with marathon it is all about

running and those miles. She ran

five K on the track just a few weeks

ago in just over 15 minutes, which I

think surpassed many people's

expectations of what she would be

doing only a few months after giving

birth, but

birth, but certainly at the moment

she is on track, a long way to go

but another great athlete we won't

see on the triathlon circuit this

year.

And excitedly this year, we

have the Commonwealth Games, and a

strong home nation.

Yes, the two

Brownlee brothers are there, Tom

Bishop, Vicky Holland is back this

year, she won a bronze medal in

Glasgow in the Commonwealth Games in

2014, and of course the young

athlete, Sophie Caldwell, so a great

team fainted. Non Stanford will be

racing for Wales, mark Austin for

Scotland. And we have this new

series, I think the athletes love

watching it, it is a great spectator

sport, so fast. There is a series

which starts in Nottingham, it will

be there on Thursday couple of days

before the athletes move across to

leads to race, then the World

Championships in Hamburg, and also

they will be racing in Edmonton as

well, so there's this little series

starting where the athletes will be

gaining points for Olympic one

vocation.

Alistair Brownlee is not

lining up for Abu Dhabi.

He is very

cautiously not racing this weekend

because he has a slight calf issue,

but otherwise his training has gone

phenom only well, not forgetting he

had a hip operation. And he had that

amazing 70.3 race in Dubai, he just

has to be careful with his calf at

the moment, but he smashed that one.

There is a lot to look forward to.

So let's concentrate on how the

World Series takes shape over the

course of the season. We start of

this weekend in the capital of the

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. We

then move on to a new, on the

series, Bermuda, home of the current

world champion Flora Duffy. From

there, it is on to one of the

regulars on the circuit, Yokohama in

May. It is then time for a

double-header on these shores. The

inaugural world triathlon mixed

relay in Nottingham. And then Leeds

a few days later. Both of these will

be live on the BBC. There will be

more relay and World Series fun over

in Hamburg, and Edmonton in July,

with the penultimate event staying

in Canada, with Montreal hosting at

the end of August. And we end with

this year's Grand Final on the Gold

Coast in Australia, the venue for

this year's Commonwealth Games. That

is of course we Non Stanford will be

trying to get amongst the medals

after being out of injury for the

Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in

2014. She is back and fit, and as

Tom Brown has been finding out, she

is trying to put the past behind

her.

2017 was a really tough year

for me. I was in quite a bad place

with everything. There were points

where I didn't have the love for it

any more. I felt like I was banging

my head against a brick wall and not

really getting anywhere. Going out

to Australia at the end of the year

has really let me reset and refresh

and find my love for it all again.

Now I'm really excited about 2018,

and in a much better place with my

training and with my triathlon.

Did it really get that bad?

There

were points in the last year where

it was really tough. And I think

when you are more rational about it,

you would never really just walk

away, but my Achilles, we persevered

with it for a really long time, and

then in June it just gave in, and I

had to have injections and a lot of

rest, and I never really was able to

get back.

COMMENTATOR: The bronze Vicky

Holland of Great Britain. And Non

Stanford comes home for fourth

position.

It is still very mixed

emotions, I had to move on, and I am

far more positive than I was

immediately afterwards. I felt like

I had let a lot of people down and I

was super disappointed with fourth.

I still wish that I had got a medal,

but I do realise that for that first

Olympics is in the end of the world,

and hopefully I will be able to

rectify that in a few years' time.

I will probably be quite

apprehensive going into Abu Dhabi,

but it will be exciting to be back

out there. I am going in with no

pressure after last year, and that

will be quite nice. It will be nice

to go in, flying under the radar

maybe a little bit, and hopefully

deliver a good performance. It is

still very early season, hopefully

going to go out and blow a few

cobwebs away, get used to racing

again. That is what I will be using

Abu Dhabi for, then I a good

four-week block leading into the

Commonwealth Games after that.

And

just weeks away from the chance of a

first Commonwealth Games.

I am

really positive and looking forward

to being part of team Wales. I

missed out in 2014 with injury, but

I have heard great things about it,

it is supposed to be the friendly

games, and the only opportunity I

get to travel with Wales and be part

of that team.

What I targets on that

first morning out on the Gold Coast?

My target is to come away with a

medal. I would love to get Wales off

to really good start and hopefully

inspire the rest of the team for the

rest of the games.

And go against

some of your biggest team-mates?

It

will be really weird to be racing

against them rather than in the same

kit and effectively as a team. It

will be a bit different. But at the

same time, I think those bonds are

already formed, and hopefully they

are not too mean to me!

Bragging

rights will be useful for the rest

of the season. I definitely want

Wales to beat England, definitely.

And you are one of the most senior

and high profile members of the

team. Are you happy with that

status?

Definitely. Although it is

my first Commonwealth Games, I'm

hoping Meakes periods from the

limericks will help me. -- I'm

hoping my experience from the

Olympics will help me. It is

something I am interested in doing,

working with the younger generations

coming through. I was so fortunate

to be helped by Dame Kelly Holmes

when I was a teenager, and I would

love to be able to pass similar

experiences onto the next

generation.

What would winning a

medal 30 Wales mean to you?

I feel

like I would have made up for the

disappointment of missing the

Commonwealth in 2014 and falling

short in the Olympics, and hopefully

just inspire the rest of the team to

go out there and believe that they

can also deliver those medals for

Wales.

Annie, it is lovely to see

Non in a good place at the moment.

It is great. She is such a lovely

person, but she is a phenomenal

athlete as well, and I don't think

we have seen her at her absolute

best. She is great, but I think she

can be better she is going to the

Commonwealth Games for the first

time, she sat at Glasgow because she

was injured, and this is a great

opportunity for her to have an

amazing rate of the top

Championships.

And congratulations

to her, because since that interview

she has been announced as team

captain for Wales.

Yes, she is very

patriotic and what a thing to happen

as an athlete. Overall captain for

the Welsh team.

And Vicky Holland,

both she and Non had a fantastic

race in Cape Town, first and second,

gold and silver, great for both of

them.

Really good. They were both on

great form, Non lacking a little bit

on the run, but she swam and bikes

really well. Vicky has suggested

that it is a smaller race, Abu Dhabi

will be a lot bigger, the girls will

all be there racing, but looking at

her times in Cape Town, she still

ran very well. She put together a

great race. So it is really good to

see both of their back on form, and

Vicky Holland won the bronze in

Glasgow, so let's she a few can go

one or two better on the Gold Coast

in a couple of weeks.

Looking at the

Gold Coast, who will be their main

rivals?

You can't look beyond Duffy.

What an incredible athlete, she is

so strategic, very smart. She will

be hard to beat, I really do think.

Ashleigh Gentle has proved to be one

of the most outstanding runners I

have ever seen in triathlon, so it

will all depend on her swim as to

whether she is there at the end of

the bike, and if she is she will be

a problem for the girls.

And also

Andrea Hewitt.

I love her, she is so

consistent, she has been around for

years, she has won a lot of races,

for anomaly experienced athlete.

Will she be in contention? I hope

so, but I don't think she will be a

major contender, I don't think she

will threaten non-Duffy, Ashleigh or

Holland.

Who do you think will be

first, second and third?

Sprint

distance racing is tricky, it is so

fast, and one tiny mistake and it

could be all over. That is the

beauty of it or not. But I think it

is difficult to call that one

because it is a sprint distance.

And

it is thrilling to watch.

It does

make it thrilling, very exciting.

Before the Gold Coast in April, we

have the small matter of the world

triathlon series in Abu Dhabi to get

under our belts. Let's go to the

commentary team now. Here is the

women's race.

COMMENTATOR: It is the sprint

distance in Abu Dhabi, 750 metres in

the water before the exit and find

transition to find the bikes. They

will then write 20 kilometres around

the motor racing circuit, five laps

of four kilometres each. And then

there will be a 5000 metres run, a

5K run to round off today's

triathlons, that will be two lapse

of 2.5 K each. Concluding just near

where it began at the start of the

swim.

Kaiser we had a bit of rain falling

earlier. It is overcast now. Air

temperature relatively mild for this

time of year. 19 degrees, very good

condition for triathlon racing here

in Abu Dhabi. Here is the line-up

for round one of the World Triathlon

Series. World champion Flora Duffy,

world number one. Ashleigh Gentle

the Australian with two, the two

Americans, Zaferes and Kasper in

three and four. Hewitt, the leading

New Zealand triathlete is in number

five. The first of the British, Jess

Learmonth, number six, also said

they Coldwell at 24 and Non Stanford

and Vicky Holland returning to

racing. Non Stanford will run 26,

Vicky Holland number 30, so plenty

of British interest would Learmonth,

Coldwell, Stanford and Holland all

in action in Abu Dhabi today. The

first instalment of the 20 18th

World Triathlon Series is about to

get under way here in Abu Dhabi. The

hooter sounds, and the series begins

with a dive start to begin this

sprint race here in the United Arab

Emirates, Abu Dhabi playing host,

perfect conditions, barely a breath

of wind on the water, and a fast

start from some of these strongest

swimmers as they head out. The

channel will narrow and they will

come into this marine section with

spectators lining the route either

side providing a spectacular

backdrop to the beginning of the new

World Series, and we have lots of

British interest here, Jess

Learmonth, so they Coldwell, Non

Stanford and Vicky Holland, the

Olympic bronze-medallist, all in

action, some returning from injury,

others returning from solid winter

training, and they are under way and

watching over them is Annie Emerson.

What a race. We have eight of the

top women from 20 18th in this

field, the

field, the -- there are only a

couple of athletes missed missing,

those we will be looking out for,

Learmonth, phenomenal swimmer with a

fantastic breakthrough season last

year, Flora Duffy as well,

fantastically strong, the Spanish

athlete Carolina Routier and young

Brit Sophie Coldwell, I think they

will play a big part in the swim.

The athletes well spread out at the

moment but as they reach the first

buoy they will all come together.

Very tall athlete there, number six,

Jess Learmonth, no surprise to see

her up there, phenomenal swimmer.

Looking at the pictures of her

before the race she also goes into

the race relaxed, chatting with the

athletes, I think she's enjoying her

position at the moment in the sport,

ranked number six at the moment with

a great year last year where she

finished second in Stockholm, third

in Rotterdam and sixth in Leeds and

won the European Championships as

well stop whites there is no doubt

that Learmonth is one to watch

today, full of

confidence. She has

all the backing of the team in

Leeds. Always an advantage to be

first to the turn, and that will be

with Jess Learmonth, she will be

first to turn because there are no

arms or feet to worry about, no

whitewater being pushed up by the

other competitors, and nice, clean,

left-handed turn therefore Jessica

Learmonth who was off into the clear

water, which takes them between

these two cylindrical buoys, and you

can see the kayakers pour used with

the jury members alongside, making

sure there are no rule breakers on

the turn. We have seen a clamp-down

of the sometimes harsh elements of

the swim turn in triathlon. Should

be just over nine minutes for the

swim. And it is Jessica Learmonth,

right on the nine minute mark, 9.01

as she comes out of the water and

makes her way to transition in good

company with Flora Duffy in second

and Summer Cook coming out in third,

then Kate is a heroes, Bragmayer,

the Hungarian, Sega of Japan, Van

Coevorden the Australian, Routier,

Santos, Coldwell has swung well in

tenth position, we will keep an eye

on the names as they come through

with a view to spotting Non Stanford

and Vicky Holland to come out

together in 17th and 18th position,

around 15 seconds down, so with a

chance to ride with Duffy, Learmonth

and Cook, but they will need to be

Sharpe in and out of transition. We

know Duffy is the strongest cyclist

out there and may well force a

breakaway in the early stages. Now

she has to nail transition, it is

smooth, Duffy first in first out,

perfect execution there. Learmonth

hot on her heels, past the mount up

line and away she goes with Summer

Cook struggling slightly, she has

dropped three four places there,

with a mistake just coming of

transition.

It is amazing how the

ten or 15 seconds you lose in the

swim can increase when the

transition gets tight. Duffy have

the sharpest transition and for me

it was a touch of deja vu from what

we have seen her do so many times

last year.

Ashleigh Gentle, a long

way back. The front group of four or

five already deep into the first lap

with Flora Duffy forcing the pace

out in front, Learmonth's transition

was good, held it together, Cook not

quite so strong and she finds

herself a few paces removed from me

she would expect to be. We know the

track is greasy and already we have

lost one of the Japanese, Sega has

come off at the first hurdle, falls

at the first turn, difficult start

for Sega of Japan.

It is not great,

dry under there, it is obviously

oil, lethal, when you look at the

tyres these guys are on, very small,

quite slippery although some would

have chosen to put grip tyres on so

they can ride write better in these

wet conditions but there is nothing

you can do when you hit oil. Looks

like Learmonth has joined forces

with Flora Duffy. We have to look

where Stanford and Holland are, 15

seconds down, positive swim for

Stanford to be with Holland. It has

also always slightly been her

Achilles' heel, the swim, but that

was a good place for Vicky Holland

to be, 15 seconds down after 750

metres.

There is the gap Duffy has

opened up after some purposeful

riding in the first lap. She was

fearless, others more cautious, wary

of the slippery road surface

underfoot but Duffy's lead over

Katie Zaferes is already significant

and growing, four seconds.

I didn't

think we'd see Duffy riding away,

but at the moment she has put

herself in a great position. A big

group behind that looks like it will

all come together, I think we will

find Stanford and Holland in that

group, Summer Cook, an early leader

in the swim with Coldwell of Great

Britain on her wheel stop whites are

theorists of the USA, one of the

more experienced

-- Katie Zaferes,

one of the more experienced

triathletes from the USA. Coldwell

in that group, number 24, making the

turn, but first to conclude the

opening lap is world number one

Duffy on her own. No company at all

for the world champion. She cruises

through at the end of lap number

one. The captives of heroes and

Learmonth is nine seconds, Coldwell

further two seconds back and we will

keep an eye on the progress over the

first lap of Holland and Stanford,

who were 17th and 18th coming out of

the water. Now 15 for Stanford and

18th for Holland at the end of lap

one.

So they are in the second pack

but it is a big pack and it will be

hard to get these girls working.

Vicky and no need to see what they

can do to get into the front of the

pack -- Vicky and Non

can do to get into the front of the

pack -- Vicky and Non.

I just heard a rash of something, we

didn't see the pictures. I hope

Flora Duffy hasn't had an issue with

the turn. -- a rush of something.

Yes, she did, I heard something, and

it was Duffy going down. Duffy has

crashed in the tunnel. Unfortunately

we didn't get pictures but I heard

the sound effects and it wasn't

promising. Duffy has not got back on

her bike and has had to instigate a

repair in the tunnel.

Yes, I'm not

happy with what's going on here, I

think they should have... This is a

Formula 1 track, there will be

Greece on it, but that patch there

is lethal, that the second athlete

to have gone down, we are only just

through the first lap. The athletes

will learn from that but it is

really hard in that dark tunnel to

see where the oily is on the floor.

Sega fell in the first lap, Duffy

has crashed in her second lap in the

same part of the course, in the

tunnel. We didn't see it.

We heard

it!

We heard it then saw Duffy

standing next to her bike. We will

hope to bring you an update as soon

as we can. That means it is all

change at the front of the race.

Yes, it certainly is.

Here we go,

this was the aftermath of Duffy's

crash, and we also lost one of the

Americans there as well. I think the

American who felt there was number

28, Chelsea Burns. Well, what a

difficult start to this race.

Something to look at as well, the

teams will be out there, the coaches

will be out there and these athletes

are going to the Commonwealth Games,

the British team going, is this

safe, do we want Non and Vicky,

serious contenders for medals in the

Commonwealth Games, going down in

this race so early in the season? It

is important because for overall

series points but is it worth

jeopardising the rest of your

season?

Duffy is out of the contest.

She is limping back towards

transition, pushing her bike, the

world champion has fallen in the

early stages of the second lap, and

will play no further part in round

one of the World Triathlon Series.

All change here, a dramatic second

lap during which we lost the world

champion, and Kirsten Kasper leads

them through with Joanna Brown of

Canada, Miller of Norway in third,

Van Coevorden, then Coldwell and

Learmonth, the best of the British

triathletes so far, Santos in there,

Stanford in tenth, only ten seconds

back, Vicky Holland a little further

down the track. So three British

triathletes within ten seconds of

leadership of this race in Abu

Dhabi.

Vicky Holland seems to have

dropped off the pace. She has lost

ten seconds, we know she was

alongside Non Stanford but I would

suggest the ten second gap means she

drops back slightly into another

group. Maybe playing it cautiously,

thinking ahead to six weeks' time

and the Commonwealth Games.

Through

the tunnel again, holding my breath

watching these terms. Thankfully

that time the first group have come

through unscathed.

Takes a bit of

time to get your bearings on a

course like this and try to work out

with the slippy parts are, but it is

difficult because you are head down,

in race mode, you will miss it, it

is not easy in that dark tunnel, and

that makes it even harder.

So, with

just over five kilometres to ride,

they are coming up to take the bell

for the bike leg. There will be one

lap to go. And we are down to seven,

we've lost two on that last lap at

the tunnel. The courses drying out

quickly in the afternoon warmth here

in Abu Dhabi, but there are still

some treacherous, slippery sections

that need be handled with great

care.

Vicky Holland said that this

course looks a lot tougher than it

looks like on TV. Obviously she

didn't race here last year but she

has had a chance to ride around it

and says it is tougher than it

looks. There is no letup, really, no

chance to get down and work hard on

the bike because it seems like every

400 or 500 metres you go around

another turned.

Katie Zaferes is our

current leader, the experienced

American wearing number three. She

and her husband Tommy Zaferes, the

triathletes family. Raced under her

maiden name for a while. Originally

from Maryland in the USA. And she

will be taking them through onto the

carpet. Nice and stable underfoot

now, one lap to go, Zaferes takes

the bell with Coldwell next in line,

Learmonth is up there, Van

Coevorden, Miller, Santos and claim.

Kasper that group as well -- and

Klamer. This is the chase group,

number 30, this is the third group I

think. Vicky Holland wearing number

30, just saw her come through. This

is the chase group now, so hopefully

Stanford and Holland are in this

group. We will wait and see because

lots can happen on this slippery

circuit.

Are the standard.

The Non Stanford. This could be what

happened to her. Is this her hitting

the athlete who fell? That is

worrying. Katie Zaferes, who is

struggling to get up off the deck.

This is absolutely insane now, the

amount that have fallen and

potentially damage themselves, and

Zaferes is screaming in pain.

Zaferes is screaming in pain.

This

is just absolutely shocking, really,

I have never seen anything like it.

It seemed like Zaferes came down

from that font pack, then the next

group came round. Non

group came round. Non seemed to get

round her, she was clear of Katie

Zaferes coming round the bend.

I

think that was Learmonth or

Caldwell, because there is only one

British triathlete left in this

front group of six.

This is our

front group, I think. Jessica

Learmonth looks like she is still in

there.

So that may well have been

Sophie Caldwell who piled into the

back of Katy Tur Mac one, because

they were in the same group.

they were in the same group. -- who

ploughed into the back of Katie

Zaferes.

So that was Sophie Caldwell

who went over the handlebars, having

piled her front wheel into Katie

Zaferes's back. As an athlete, you

don't want to win races and get onto

the podium because other athletes

have come off the bike in the way

that they have here, no one has made

any mistakes, it has just been

impossible for some of these

athletes to stay upright. This main

group is down to six, Rachel Klamer

at the back, and Jessica Learmonth

still safe, touch wood. We know

Vicky Holland went round as well in

that penultimate lap. She was in the

second group.

Well, this race has been

characterised by a catalogue of

crashes in the dreaded greasy Tamil.

characterised by a catalogue of

crashes in the dreaded greasy --

tunnel.

tunnel. Kirsten Kasper is the first

one to remove her feet from the

shoes and rest on top. The others

follow suit. Rachel Klamer on the

right of the screen, a slight

figure, the best of the Dutch. And

they are approaching the end of what

has been a very, very difficult ride

on the motor racing circuit. At the

dis- madeleine, Kasper arrives

first, Learmonth of Great Britain is

in excellent shape here. She has

watched her team-mates and her

opponents, some of them have fallen

during that 20K, they will be

relieved to be hanging up their

bikes in one piece. It is a good

transition from Kasper, a little

slow from Learmonth, but she is away

now and leaves transition in third

position,

position, followed by van Coevorden.

A little slow transition from

Learmonth, Kasper was quickly out,

and Palmer has just sat in behind,

kept herself out of trouble. She is

an athlete to look out for, she was

European champion in 2009, and the

girlfriend of Richard Murray so she

is in a great training group with

the Dutch athletes. She did race in

Cape Town back in February, finished

sixth. Her best finish was a podium,

she has been on the podium just

once. She has had some decent top

ten finishes, but at the moment she

is on the heels of Kirsten Kasper

who is leading this race, and the

British athlete not too far behind,

Natalie van Coevorden in third

place.

So our leader is the

American, Kirsten Kasper, 26, ranked

fourth in the world triathlon series

at the end of the 2017 campaign. She

has been a triathlete only since

June 20 14. They are into the tunnel

now, the scene of so many trials.

And worryingly, I think that is the

paramedics still attending to Katie

Zaferes, who hasn't been able to

make her way out of the tunnel.

It

is not nice for the athlete having

to run past. Hopefully she will be

OK, but it is a good angle to look

at when the athletes run through,

you can see how tight that bend is

and how dark it is, and with oil on

the floor, they didn't stand a

chance. Jessica Learmonth needs to

work a bit harder to get onto this

group of three.

Learmonth buzzing with confidence

after victory at the European

Championships last year. This is

only her 12th world triathlon series

start today, so she is relatively

inexperienced compared to the other

three who have plenty more than

that. But a couple of podiums, the

win at the Kitzbuhel ETU triathlon

Championships in 2017, second place

in Stockholm, sixth in her home city

of Leeds. Learmonth knows that the

time is potentially right for her to

assume her position as the British

and one, and the 29 your old is

leading them through to half

distance on the run.

distance on the run. 2.5 K down, 2.5

to go. Will this be the day for

Learmonth? She looks full of energy

and running. Rachel Klamer, Kasper,

van Coevorden, standing in her way.

I think that the last win of a

British athlete was back in Cape

Town, Non Stanford, 2016, if I have

got my facts right. So we haven't

had a British athlete on top of the

podium for some time now. Obviously

Holland and Stanford both at last

year.

2016 the British team started

really well, there was a victory for

Jodie Stimpson here in Abu Dhabi

over the full course, then Helen

Jenkins won on the Gold Coast, then

Non Stanford won the sprint event in

Cape Town, so we had three straight

British wins. Learmonth and Klamer

are winning this contest. Into the

final 1500 metres now. They are

shoulder to shoulder as they battle

for supremacy in the concluding

stages of around one of the world

triathlon series, and there is an

injection of pace from Rachel

Klamer. It looks as if Kasper is

unable to stay with them. Van

Coevorden has been pushed back to

fourth position as Jess Learmonth

grits her teeth and looks behind her

to see what has happened to the

other two.

Don't look behind. Look

forward, stay with Klamer. They have

a few minutes of running to go, too

early to make a break. Learmonth,

head slightly back, she is hurting,

that's for sure. Klamer looks

relaxed, they have these positions

now because it looks like Natalie

van Coevorden has dropped off, and

our podium finishes are going to

come from Kirsten Kasper, Jessica

Learmonth and Rachel Klamer.

Van

Coevorden losing touch with the

leaders now. They have taken the

final right hand, the big

right-handed turn, and are pointing

in the direction of the finishing

straight. One kilometre to go.

Klamer has tried to break Jess

Learmonth unsuccessfully so far.

Another burst of pace from the Dutch

triathlete, but Learmonth so far is

able to respond to everything that

Rachel Klamer has thrown at her.

Klamer takes the next turn, and this

time puts a bit of daylight between

her and Jess Learmonth. Will that be

decisive?

It's not over yet, but you

don't want this to happen at this

stage of the race. You have got

absolutely stay there. Has Klamer

gone a little too early? Has Jessica

gone anything left in the tank?

Remember the famous finish last year

with Hewitt Tim Stimpson when we

thought Stimpson had it and Hewitt

came back. Could that happen here

again? 800 metres to go, just under

three minutes of running left.

Rachel Klamer from the Netherlands,

the girlfriend of Richard Murray,

who we know is a fantastic runner.

They have been training together for

the last two or three years, and

Klamer is running in the triathlon,

she has improved dramatically, and

she has opened up a gap of a couple

of seconds over Jess Learmonth.

She

is looking good now. She is really

looking good for this win. She is

still looking very comfortable, and

if you look at Jess, the head has

gone back, the speed is still there

but she is looking like she is

suffering quite a bit more than

Klamer. But she is still there with

600 metres to go.

Rachel Klamer has

recently returned from a three-month

training stint in South Africa with

Richard Murray in and around Cape

Town, and here she is potentially

pushing for her first ever world

triathlon series win. Could Jess

Learmonth kicking one more time and

close the gap? We had a sprint

finish 12 months ago when Andrea

Hewitt defeated Jodie Stimpson over

the final 50 metres of the race.

Klamer is holding an four the moment

out in front.

This is Klamer's for

the taking now. Jess Learmonth has

worked hard, she just has to hold of

Kirsten Kasper who is coming back at

her slightly now. The podium

positions are safe for these three

athletes, the Australian athlete who

worked so hard has dropped off.

Sprint distance racing is tough, it

is so short, these athletes will be

tired now.

Learmonth has an

advantage of a couple of seconds

over Kirsten Kasper. That is the gap

between second and third. But it is

number eight who leads them through.

Last 250 metres as Rachel Klamer

bids to win her first world

triathlon series event. And also

hopes to become the first ever Dutch

winger of a world triathlon series

competition.

An amazing day for the

Dutch athlete. She has certainly

been racing hard and consistently

for a long, long time now. 14

seconds to go.

Learmonth looks

absolutely spent now, with her head

moving backwards, and she is

starting to rock and roll from side

to side. I do hope that she can hold

on over the last 100 metres or so.

And hold on for second position.

I

think Jess has got to, we are

worried when the head goes back in

the eyes roll, because we think of

Jonny Brownlee, but she has done

some good work with the training,

but she is suffering here. 100

metres to go, I think she will get

caught by Kirsten Kasper, but I

think she will hold off the

Australian athlete.

Learmonth will

be looking at another second

position. She has become a regular

podium placed athlete. Surely her

first world triathlon series win

can't be too far away. Into the

final stretch comes Rachel Klamer of

the Netherlands. The 27-year-old

makes the final turn, comes onto the

comfort of the blue carpet, and

there are lots of friends and

supporters there to welcome her. A

little stumble, but she won't mind.

As Rachel Klamer wins in Abu Dhabi,

it her first ever world triathlon

series win, the first world

triathlon series victory for a Dutch

triathlete. Good finish from Natalie

van Coevorden as Jess Learmonth

comes home to take second. A good

sprint finish between van Coevorden

and Kasper, that is a photo, it will

go to the judge between those two

for that final place on the podium

here is Abu Dhabi. Santos has held

an for a personal best fifth

position. The Portuguese triathlete

full of smiles as she comes home for

fifth. We wait for the decision on

third between van Coevorden and

Kirsten Kasper, but it is Rachel

Klamer who wins for the first time

in Abu Dhabi in a dramatic incident

packed race.

I am so happy. There was no way I

expected this. I was scared on the

bike. I have been training on

straight roads, I didn't do any

corners. I missed one girl crashing,

and the next, and the next, and I

just decided to take it easy, ride

hard but go slowly through the

corners, and I ended up sitting

behind a couple of crashes, which

wasn't smart, so I had to chase one

whole lap to get back to the front

pack, but I am happy I stayed on my

bike, and when we started running, I

tried to focus on my breathing

because normally at the start of the

season I get side stitches, so I

trained on my breathing, trying to

breathe in and out slowly. I stayed

at the back of the pack to make sure

I didn't make the same mistake as

last year, and in the last lap, I

decided to give it a try.

Oh, my

lord, it was a nightmare. We were

wondering if it would be dry or not,

and it wasn't, obviously. It was

just survival of the fittest, it was

nerve-racking. I hope everyone is

all right to crashed, but it was

carnage. To be in a running race in

a group of four, it was surreal,

because normally I see people go

straight pass me or I am hanging on,

so it was good.

And a great start to

the season for you in terms of

points, and the Commonwealth Games I

just six weeks or way.

I thought, if

I have a bad race, it is to have a

month to try and recover, and

likewise, I have done it here but we

still have a month to go with a lot

of training and the prep for it, but

it gives me a bit of confidence, and

we will see what it brings.

The

final results:

lots can happen on this slippery

circuit.

Thankfully Sophie Coldwell has

picked herself up after her incident

with Katie 's theories and

courageously finished the race.

STUDIO: Just some clarification on

what we believe happened to Kirsten

Kasper on the last lap. She was

given a penalty for littering and

while she was serving the time

penalty Natalie Van Coevorden

overtook her just before the final

straight and the Australian held on

for the bronze medal in a sprint

finish. Annie, looking at that race,

the conditions were terrible. How

would you describe the?

Treacherous,

awful. Don't think I've ever seen

anything like it. I don't know what

they could have done to prevent it

but it was not really acceptable, so

many good good, experienced athletes

going down, like Flora who has great

bike handling skills, it could

couldn't have been avoided -- it

couldn't have been avoided. It needs

to be better than that.

couldn't have been avoided. It needs

to be better than that.

We are also

accustomed in Abu

to be better than that.

We are also

accustomed in Abu Dhabi to it being

warm and dry

accustomed in Abu Dhabi to it being

warm and dry so a different feel to

the race.

There was, normally very

hot, Sun blazing, every year, the

fourth time they have held the race

there, so the rain probably wasn't

expected or predicted which makes it

difficult. Sometimes that misty rain

that was falling as more dangerous

than full on rain, where everybody

knows they have to be cautious.

We

know it is a motor racing circuit so

is that the problem, or while on the

circuit?

Exactly, or we'll all

Greece, because the way they came

down. They were coming down in spots

as well, that is not a tight bend.

down. They were coming down in spots

as well, that is not a tight bend.

Really disappointing.

Tough race.

First win for Rachel Klamer, great

run for her.

She swims well and

bikes well but I don't think she has

produced the run. Difficult to say

because we lost the Faroes and Duffy

but you can't take it away from

Klamer, she had a great race.

And

congratulations to just Learmonth,

good season last year and a great

way to start.

When an athlete has a

great season you wonder if they can

back it up and she did, kept out of

trouble, probably had luck on the

bike but kept out of trouble, great

swim as we would expect and her

running, every race it seems to

improve, and that's what you want to

see.

And a huge boost for her

confidence which is important going

forward.

Definitely, Commonwealth

Games!

What about Vicky and Non

They have problems with the bikes.

Do

They have problems with the bikes.

Do they have to worry about that?

Absolutely not, other than the fact

that it was unpredictable. I imagine

they were being cautious because at

this stage, six weeks from a major

championship, you don't want to come

down and break something, so we know

Non got into a crash,

down and break something, so we know

Non got into a crash, Vicky had to

avoid something, so I think today

they probably measured it up halfway

thought, let's get round and have a

good training session. We know off

the back of Cape Town they are both

in good form with great winters

behind them. I expect a different

race, the Commonwealth Games.

Time

to turn our attention to the men's

race. This time last year Tom Bishop

was waiting for a breakthrough, and

he got it in Abu Dhabi. Remember

was waiting for a breakthrough, and

he got it in Abu Dhabi. Remember

this? COMMENTATOR: Remarkable

running so far from Tom Bishop. Tom

Bishop, what a race he is having.

Bishop home to take the Silva in Abu

Dhabi. For you it must be a moment

in your career you waited for for a

long time, only one top ten in World

Triathlon Series then neck and neck

with Gomez.

I got off the bike

knowing this was possible, had a bad

second transition and fortunately

Gomez did as well

second transition and fortunately

Gomez did as well so I latched onto

him and found myself running through

the group, catching back-up to Gomez

and thinking, this is amazing, and I

couldn't believe it when I finished

the race that I had come second. It

took a couple of months to really...

I kept having to remind myself I did

that. I am trying to put myself in

that situation a bit more. I am

still trying to learn, it is new

experience running at the front of a

race or for a medal so it is

learning how to finish it off, which

is... It's still something am trying

to work on.

Well, Tom is already in the heat

chamber and training alongside

Jessica Learmonth, the European

champion. Four degrees outside, 35

degrees in there, and I am not sure

if I'm looking forward to it but I'm

going to find out what it's all

about. You've been here half an

hour.

Yes.

How much longer in here?

Another 40 minutes on the bike and

then 35 minutes on the treadmill

afterwards.

How do you think the

Brownlee brothers have impacted the

other athletes, yourself, and all

the other guys that train because

they are, or have appeared to be, in

a class of their own at times.

And

they still are, we saw Rio, Alistair

was a bit more hit and miss with his

races or not doing as many, but when

he took the chances he would win the

race. He obviously helps Johnny out

as well, and it would be same in the

Commonwealth Games. What I have

learned from them is they know what

they need to do to win, and you can

pretty much guarantee when it

matters they are in the shape to do

it. They are inspirational in the

fact that they trained so hard and

nothing gets in their way. I have

tried to take that attitude on and

do it for my own training as well,

and it seems to be working. It's an

important lesson for people who want

to really make it happen.

You seem

quite calm and relaxed like you have

the confidence you haven't had

before.

I think I have done the

right thing. I know what work for me

last year and I have done the same.

I have looked at my training and I

only in better shape than I was this

time last year. I have to keep it

going now. There is no pressure, I

am not chasing fitness, just keeping

up the sessions, and it seems to be

all going well. The guys, the team

around they are quite confident in

my ability, and when you are in a

good spot you don't need to change

anything. That's one of the mistakes

I used to make was to always chase

and push and five the extra little

bit. I don't think I need to now, I

think I'm there, it's just get there

in one shape and not too tired and I

think I'll be ready.

Really

interesting to see Tom there with

this really positive mental

attitude.

It's great. He's a really

smart guy and I think is learned a

lot over the last few years about as

an athlete and what he needs to do

to be successful. -- about himself.

He tried hard to make the Rio team

to support the Brownlee brothers but

didn't make it, Gordon Benson went

instead. After that second place in

Abu Dhabi he has become an athlete

very much in his own right, out

there racing for himself, and I am

excited to see him race in 2018.

I

love that insight into their

training, heat chamber. Is that

important to the?

It is really

important, it helps them stay home

and train when they are comfortable

but also adapt to racing in the

heat. I know Jonathan Brownlee turns

up his conservatory heating to do

the same. Let's look at his season.

It was a trickier for him, what you

make of it going forward? He still

won in Stockholm which is one of the

hardest races on that target, a

tough climb it in both the run and

the bike, second in Leeds, and

amazing race from the Brownlee

brothers, a showpiece, then a couple

of top fives. By his standards that

is not what he wants to achieve, he

wants to win, so it was a tough

year, not his best, but he has a

good winter's training, the run not

brilliant but he has a whole lot of

room still to improve before the

Comoros games.

Let's talk about the

Commonwealth Games, who from the

other nations will be main rivals?

You cannot overlook Jacob

Birtwistle, slightly inexperienced

but races well in sprint distance,

former world under 23 champion, look

at Schoeman as well and Richard

Murray, they will be tough. Richard

doesn't quite have the swim but is

only a sprint difference, Schoeman

we have to look out for.

We have

seen the highlights of the women's

race. Earlier in the day the men had

to face the same tricky conditions,

so let's see how they fared. We can

hand you back to our commentators.

COMMENTATOR: Here's the start list

for the first race of the new

season.

Tom Bristow had a brilliant race

here in a year ago finishing second

behind Gomez.

Luis and Le Corre the two leading

French athletes.

There is the world champion, Mario

Mola. Two years in a row he has

become the world champion. 2016

after the drama, he got the title.

Last year he took it having finished

in third position at the grand final

in Rotterdam. Winner of this race in

Abu Dhabi in 2015 and again in 2016.

They were both full distance races.

Today is slightly different, because

they have cut it and half, it is a

sprint. There is Vincent Lewies,

winner of the final race of 2017 in

Rotterdam at the grand final, beat

two tarmacking to second, Mola into

third.

He won

third.

He won his first-ever World

Championship and that win in

Rotterdam was his first-ever full

distance. He is incredibly strong

and an athlete the others will keep

an eye on today's.

The 2018 World

Triathlon Series is about to get

going. Here in Abu Dhabi. The

athletes are lining up in the water

ready for stage one. It is a sprint

distance competition today, a single

lap swim in the calm waters of the

Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi.

I always

get twitchy when I watched the start

and you saw the athlete shaking

their arms and exhaling, very

nervous. The sprint distance racing

does that to be athletes, there is

no room for error, you have to be

there at the end of the swim

otherwise it is game over and being

750, it will be fast and athletes

will want to attempt to break away

and as we can see, number 16,

Wagner, we know he has trained in

Leeds previously with the Brownlee

brothers, he was in the training

camp in Tenerife. Johnny Brownlee on

the left-hand side will want to

stick with Varga, a few niggles this

winter period meaning he hasn't been

able to run as much as he would

like, therefore they have to try

something on the swim, try to break

away. Very difficult over such a

short distance.

No surprise to see

Richard Varga moving out in front

and Henry Schoeman on the far side

of this channel just about matching

him, the South African, one of the

top swimmers, and won't be far off

the pace of Varga on the near side

with Johnny Brownlee. Varga leading

that arrowhead on the right with

Johnny Brownlee on his heels and

Blummenfelt wasn't far away, but

they have split into two different

lines. A bit of a scrum. One or two

knocked out of the way.

Number 14,

Royle of Estrella in that bunch,

second or third, always an athlete

you, not so much great, great swim-

by competition. He spent some time

in Leeds, he is the partner of Non

Stanford so knows Johnny well and

Johnny will be pleased to have them

there as company. We can see, as it

always happens, they looked to

spread out early in the swim but are

now coming together just as they

have to time going round the buoy

and that's where it gets scrappy and

messy, 55 athletes all approaching

this 180 degrees turn together.

Did

Schoeman beat Varga to return, I

think he might have done?

Schoeman

is a great, smart swimmer, and it is

Schoeman, you called it well.

He has

had a difficult time of late,

Schoeman, you can find out about it

if you want to know. A troublesome

period with all sorts of media

speculation for Schoeman, he has

done well to come through unscathed.

The ITU have cleared him of any

wrongdoing and I think his statement

was there had never been a positive

test or adverse analytical finding,

or a necessity for a therapeutic use

exemption form, he said he never

failed a drug test in his sporting

career nor has he ever had to apply

for an exemption. Most importantly

the ITU have completely cleared him

of wrongdoing, and I think we have

to move on from that. That came up

in Rio when he won the bronze medal,

but I would like to reiterate that

he has been totally cleared. He has

back racing, raised in Cape Town a

couple of weeks ago, came second to

Richard Murray in a World Cup sprint

event, so good for him, he's had a

chance to hit out already this

season which many other athletes

haven't, as has Richard Murray.

The British athletes to look out

for, Jonny Brownlee, Tom Bishop,

Marcos did, Gordon Benson. As Henri

Schoeman leads them in towards the

end of this single lap of swimming.

750 metres almost done, fast time.

Schoeman will be out in under nine

minutes. And he is first to reach

the ramp that takes him out of the

water, and Schoeman is on his way.

That was Ben Canute in second place.

Just three seconds behind. We saw

Jonny Brownlee near the front, Varga

is out.

is out. Tom Bishop is just ten

seconds off the pace, right up

there, should be with the leading

group as they pick up their bikes.

Schoeman makes the left turn, Gordon

Benson is through and he is with

that front group as well. Joanna

Mak Marc Austin is out. They are

into transition. They have reversed

this time and time again. Jonny

Brownlee is synchronised with

Vincent Luis as they set off on the

first of their five laps, a 20K ride

around the streets of the motor

circuit of the marina. A little

light rate falling. Henri Schoeman

is on the way, Vincent Luis

following. And we have a man down

already. What a dreadful start. Was

that Connix?

One of the French

athletes.

He is back-up on his bike.

Dreadful start from one of the

French athletes.

Looking back down

the field, Jacob Birtwhistle is one

to look out for, he was well down,

about 25 seconds down. Mola was the

last of the top guys out, 30 seconds

down.

There is a gap to Richard

Varga who is desperately trying to

get to the front. He wasn't the

first out of the water. Schoeman who

led the swim. Then a group of six or

seven who are strung out along the

back straight of the motor circuit.

It is a truncated lap within the

confines of the Formula 1 track

here. And the front four has just

become five.

As we can see, the

roads are pretty treacherous, it is

very damp and that is when it

becomes dangerous and slippery.

Jonny Brownlee is pushing the pace

along. He wants somebody to join

him, he wants to keep clear of the

rest of the field. We all know how

successful the Brownlee brothers can

be when they dominate the bike

section of these triathlons, and

obviously Jonny Brownlee has that in

mind today. He wants to get the race

wrapped up by the time he hangs up

his bike. And he has gone down!

Jonny Brownlee pushing too hard, and

he has caused a traffic jam behind

him. Goodness me.

Yes, that wasn't

going to be the first accident we

saw. There is not a lot you can do

about it. The only thing you can try

and do is stay off the white paint,

that gets really greasy, but I think

he just came down on a spot that was

pretty unavoidable. The guys have

great skills, but when you're riding

on this, it is like being on an ice

rink in parts. I don't think Jonny

did anything wrong.

So, the first

race of the season, the officials

will have their heads in hands

watching Jonny Brownlee hit the deck

before completes his first lap for

2018. You can see his yellow bike

helmet at the top of that group,

bobbing up and down as he

desperately tries to get back on

terms with the lead group. Let's see

this again. He was taking the

right-hander, his wheels went from

under him, and then the others had

to take evasive action. But he only

spent a few seconds on the deck

before he was back and riding again.

Thankfully no one else made contact.

The only worry is that is your

confidence is dented and you become

very cautious, but Jonny Brownlee

has great skills and great

experience, so hopefully that'll

crash hasn't affected him too much.

So, one of the Italians now leading,

Alessandro Fabian. Then Kanute of

the USA, Bergere France, Luis,

Nieschlag, Schoeman. Jonny Brownlee

has only lost nine seconds after his

off. That is the first group of 11.

Jonny Brownlee is not out of this

competition. He could still bounce

back and win this race. Another one

down, it is Fabian. We keep losing

the leaders. Brownlee was leading,

then we lost Fabian who was leading.

It is greasy underfoot, caution is

required.

required. Pierre le Corre now takes

it up for France.

Tom I don't think

is that happy, I know last year in

Yokohama he didn't enjoy the wet

conditions, and he had a bit of a

crash and had to work hard to get

back on. When I was having a chat

with him, he said he lost his nerve

in the wet, as you do, and these

athletes have come down thick and

fast now.

fast now.

Jonathan Brownlee with the

yellow helmet coming here he comes

now, his bike seems to be undamaged

and he is fighting for his place,

making his way back up through the

field, hoping to join in with the

leaders at the front of this

competition here in Abu Dhabi. The

first stage of the 2018 World Cup

series has got off to dramatic

start.

We can see now that Schoeman

is to siding he is going to have a

bit of a go and write off the front.

This is the only hill on the

circuit, I'm surprised they have let

him go. I think he is looking around

and thinking, there is a big group

behind with some good runners, I

have a chance to be on the podium.

He didn't have the best of years

last year following his phenomenal

bronze medal in Rio, and he won in

Cozumel, and we remember that for

one special reason, Alistair

carrying Jonny across the line, but

the rest of the results were nothing

to write home about. I think that

Schoeman is going to be looking to

make up for a very difficult 2017.

You mentioned Cozumel and the famous

brothers in arms, that wouldn't be

allowed now, the rules have changed.

Alistair would no longer be allowed

to pick up his brother and throw him

across the finish line like you did

in Cozumel.

They have updated the

rules because of that, I think, but

what a great story it was for

triathlon.

So we are into the second half of

this 20K bike, and Henri Schoeman is

out on his own. It has been the

perfect tactical race so far for the

South African. Let's get a check on

the time difference here. Last time

was eight seconds, but now we have

somebody who made an effort to try

and bridge the gap from the chasers

to the leader. Schoeman looks to be

happy out on his own. No one has

gone with him, no one has troubled

him for a while, and his lead is

extended to around 11 seconds.

Vincent Luis is trying to stem the

tide of Schoeman's efforts on the

bike, and he is now joined by Aaron

Royle of Australia who wants to go

with Vincent Luis. Jonny Brownlee is

next and then Fabian. And marry a

Mola is up in that chase group as

well. So Mola remember was 30

seconds down coming out of the

water, and he is back in contention

now. Schoeman's lead has extended to

an impressive 14 seconds, but Mola

is right back in this race.

I think

Schoeman has just got to keep his

head down now. I don't think it is

the fact that he is working, putting

in a massive effort. Think he just

wrote the corner is a little bit

more bravely than some of the

athletes. And there are so many

corners, the race keeps slowing down

and then opening up. It would be

much harder on long stretches of

road is to stay away like this, but

at the moment I think he is having a

very intelligent, strong race. Even

if he only gets a gap of around 20

seconds, he stays out of trouble

that you might see some times when

the athletes are riding in a big

pack of these tight, wet bends.

pack of these tight, wet bends.

This

is the only dry part of the truck as

they go through the tunnel and out

onto the main body. And another

major collision! Goodness me, who is

it this time? It is Russell White of

Ireland who is down, and that is the

dry part of the track.

I can only

really think that there is a lot of

grease on this road, because coming

down where he has just come down, it

wasn't even a tight bend, and it

isn't even wet under there.

It is a

motor racing circuit, there will be

oil, grease, bits of rubber around.

It is not going to be the Gropius

circuit, but take nothing away from

Henri Schoeman, the South African

has nailed this race so far. What a

start for the 26-year-old from

Durban, started competing in 2011 in

the elite field, came in with his

strength, his background in

swimming, and use that to good

effect to be the third man home in

the Rio Olympic Games to earn his

bronze medal. Schoeman well-balanced

through the tightest part of the

circuit.

You can see how narrow and

tight it is there, and you can see

how it will really favour a lone

rider, because when you come to

those corners in a big group, it

gets a lot of to move around

quickly.

So far, tactically, very

sensible, sensible riding from Henri

Schoeman, and there is marry

Mario Miola, winner last season on

the Gold Coast and Yokohama, he won

again in Hamburg and again in

Edmonton. He was third at the grand

final in Rotterdam in September.

That is how he wrapped up his second

successive world title. Henri

Schoeman leading, and further down

the road, his main rivals are

beginning to

beginning to gather Mario Miola is

taking on plenty of liquid, keeping

himself hydrated. Jonny Brownlee is

keeping himself out of trouble as

well, maybe there is some damage to

the right knee, that would be my

assessment looking at the scarring

and potential bleeding. That might

be the only damage done to Jonathan

Brownlee after that crashed earlier.

It is Adrien Briffod at the top of

this group. Henri Schoeman took the

bell some 20 seconds ago.

Birtwhistle is in contention, so is

Silva.

Nieschlag is the leading German.

Approaching transition for the last

time on the bike circuit, and

Schoeman starts to prepare. He will

rest his feet on top of his bike

shoes, which will remain attached to

the pedals as he hangs up the bike.

And Burford just glancing behind.

The gap was up to at its best for

Henri Schoeman around 18 seconds, so

we will see what it is the

conclusion of the bike leg. Jonny

Brownlee just keeping himself

removed from that group. Schoeman is

into transition, he wants this to be

clean and fast. So far, so good. Has

a little glance to see what his

rivals are doing, he has picked up

his glasses and he is away. Brifford

burst out of transition behind him.

Mario Mola behind him, coming up to

his position in transition. World

number one, and he is 22 seconds off

the pace of Henri Schoeman. Remember

he has closed down gaps of around 30

seconds in the past. The familiar

white visor for Mario Miola. Henri

Schoeman, Olympic gold medallist,

leads them, bursting out of

transition and he is on his first

lap. Brifford of Switzerland, the

Canadian in second, and then the

battle begins. Further down the

road, Mola straight into his stride,

with Luis for company, and Bergere.

Jonny Brownlee with a damaged right

knee, we think, looks for the

running. Royle coming through,

Kanute, and Fabian who was also a

fuller on the bike leg, the last of

that group to leave transition. Only

once in world triathlon series

history has an athlete led out of

the water and off the bike and gone

on to win the race. And that was

Alistair Brownlee in Kitzbuhel in

2011. If Henri Schoeman does it

today, because he was first out of

the water, he was leading after the

bike, if he holds on to win this

race, he will become only the second

triathlete to achieve that.

Schoeman looks like he is full of

running at the moment, very relaxed,

legs turning over nice and had

files.

Johnny Brownlee is in 11th

position.

Holding his own on the

shoulder of Jacob Birtwhistle, good

place to go. He made no bones of the

fact that he wasn't going in with

massive confidence particularly on

the run, not the swim and the bike,

he is fit there, but it will be a

good hit out for Brownlee and a good

step towards building on where he

needs to be fuller Commonwealth

Games in six weeks, where his

brother will be, and that always

adds a bit more to the race, when

Alistair is there with Johnny.

Take

out the Spaniard Mola and the two

French boys and Schoeman is one of

the favourites heading into the

Commonwealth Games because Mola and

Badger and Luis will not be

involved, but Schoeman will, -- Mola

and Bergere. A sprint distance on

the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth

Games triathlon and Schoeman could

go here. Mola clear of Luis and

Bergere and Mola has staked a claim

for outright second.

He certainly

has, stamping down his authority on

the Frenchman. They have gone out

fast, Luis races well over five five

kilometres but has raced well

already. Schoeman is definitely a

favourite for a Commonwealth medal

as they come over

the. They have

rung the bell to say they are on the

final lap.

Schoeman leads the way

with two and a half kilometres to

run, danger lurking, though, because

Mario Mola is now 11 seconds off the

pace, and has moved to adapt another

gear, four seconds further back

Vincent Luis and Leo Bergere who

look like they may be fighting for

third here with the last lap to

come. The two Frenchman shoulder to

shoulder then Adrian brief vogue,

but he won't be featuring in the top

ten I don't think by the end of

today -- Briffod. Silva and Iden,

the Norwegian, Mishra Pflucke --

Mislawchuk in tenth. Mola sets his

sights on the green ahead of him,

the Green worn by the South African

Schoeman. He is in focus now for

Mario Mola.

49 seconds down there,

the team partner of Schoeman, we

would have expected him to feature

more off the back of the victory in

Cape Town a few weeks ago, but

hasn't made it on the swim. Mola a

bit behind. This is a part of the

course to relax a little, let the

legs turnover fast, you want to

relax when you go downhill but you

have to give up the pace especially

when you have world number one Mario

Mola chasing you down. A little

mention of the French athlete

alongside Luis, Leo Bergere, one of

the youngest, 21. The French team

looking strong now, he won a bronze

never at the Junior World

Championships in 2015 but hasn't

featured Matt on the World Triathlon

Series, ape in Hamburg last year --

hasn't featured much.

Schoeman

leading the way up the hill land

onto the motor circuit for the final

time, Mario Mola starting to breathe

down the South African's next, he is

closing the gap, but is there enough

tarmac for Mola to get the job done?

Luis of France, Bergere also of

France running in close proximity in

third and fourth. They could be in a

head-to-head battle to claim the

last place on the podium. And a bit

further behind we have the

Australian Jacob Birtwhistle and

Jonathan Brownlee of Great Britain,

and others, looking for top ten

finishes in the first race of the

season. Schoeman versus Mola for the

win here in Abu Dhabi in the first

race of the 2018 World Triathlon

Series.

It will be a close contest,

it really will be, with a mile to go

on this course, we would expect the

athletes to run around five minutes

for the last mile. Mola on his own

now which makes it hard work because

when you are running in a group you

can work of the other athletes. But

we can see Mola, not having it easy,

putting in a big effort

putting in a big effort here but has

he got enough road left to catch

Schoeman?

Twice the world champion,

the last two years, the man from

Majorca, but Schoeman of Durm and

insert -- Durban in South Africa has

put in an excellent pace in the

first lap and a half of this five K

run and at the moment Schoeman looks

relatively secure in first but you

can never know what Mola is capable

of.

We have to do a bit accounting

here, the time is ticking away, I

don't think Mola will get him now,

he almost looks slightly slower and

instrument can smell the finish

line, it is a decent gap now.

Nine

seconds, possibly ten, counting with

the naked eye and by fingers, and

Schoeman is within 1200 metres of

what would be his second World

Triathlon Series win, his first at

the grand final on September 2016.

Today could be his second. Ten

seconds the official gap between

Schoeman and Mola, and I don't think

it's going to happen for Mario Mola

here. Schoeman is in great shape and

will become only the second man to

lead out of the water, off the bike,

and go on to win a top level race.

The first to do it was Alistair

Brownlee in Kitzbuhel 2011, Schoeman

can follow in his footsteps here. He

is inside the kilometre with the

lead of ten seconds over Mario Mola.

Mola looks like he has picked up the

pace slightly. Difficult to tell

from so high up, these are the

helicopter views, but I think

Schoeman now was almost smelling

victory, he will glance over his

shoulder, 800 metres of running,

Luis now pulled away from the young

French man. These will be our podium

place finishes it is just who will

be there first, Schoeman Mola, what

does he have left in the tank?

Luis

the winner of the last race of 2017,

may finish on the podium in the

first of 2018. Bush has glanced

around, I think he has resigned

himself to force the -- Bergere has

glanced around, I think he has

resigned himself to fourth position.

He senses the threat from Mola,

Schoeman, but with the last few

metres to run Schoeman will not give

up on this victory in Abu Dhabi.

Well, camera angle deceptive,

difficult to tell I think that that

gap probably still stands around

8-10 seconds. Mola still pumping

those arms.

Gritting his teeth,

rocking and rolling, it's an effort

now, Schoeman glances back, down to

eight seconds from ten down to eight

with the last 450 metres to run.

Mario Mola putting heart and soul

into this final 500 metres.

I

mentioned there I think that is

Johnny Brownlee in the back

alongside Silva of Portugal but it

looks like Brownlee has pulled away

slightly, seven seconds now, 350

metres to run, Mola gritting his

teeth, he hasn't given up yet.

Into

the last 300 metres, and Schoeman

has got another gear to go to. He

has raised the pace of this

competition, another glance,

worryingly, over his shoulder,

because Mola has put in a sterling

effort to close the gap, but I don't

think it will happen now. Last 200

metres. The distance is significant

enough for Schoeman surely to go on

and win the first race of the 2018

World Triathlon Series. It's gone

down from ten down to nine down to

eight and down to six seconds now as

Schoeman makes return, still

glancing over his shoulder but

starting to celebrate as he pumped

his right fist. It's been a

difficult few weeks and months for

Schoeman but he has returned to

top-level racing with a win in Abu

Dhabi. What a start to the season.

He will head into the Commonwealth

Games of the favourite for gold on

the Gold Coast but it is gold here

in Abu Dhabi for the South African

Schoeman. He wins round one of the