The news that triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee was retiring from the sport simply days after his finest outcome of the season might have taken some by surprise– however he’s described why the timing for him is best.
The double Olympic champ altered the face of the sport, not simply with those gold medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016 however with the method he raced full-scale in all 3 disciplines.
In his prime he was essentially unsurpassable and though he’s not had the ability to train with the very same strength in the last number of years due to injuries, he was still able to make the podium at the T100 Grand Final in Dubai at the weekend behind newly-crowned world champ Marten Van Riel and ruling 70.3 champ Rico Bogen.
‘It simply feels truly ideal’
And speaking on the T100 Triathlon World Tour’s YouTube channel Brownlee stated: “I was quite positive all year that this was going to be my last racing, however I wished to get to the end of the year and actually see how I felt, without making a rash choice.
“Many elements have actually entered into that choice. Eventually it simply feels truly best. And I understand that’s type of a wishy-washy thing to state, however it does, and I’m truly delighted with it.
“It’s a mix of I have actually been doing it for a long period of time and there are many other things in sport I wish to have the ability to do. I wish to be able to do all sort of endurance difficulties.
I wish to remain healthy and fit and be part of sport ideally into my aging.
“I’m absolutely conscious I’m type of putting the miles on the clock and using particular things down. I desired to retire fit and healthy and not be required to retire by injury and disease or whatever.”
‘Unpredictability’ hard to handle
Speaking in more information about the difficulties he’s dealt with over the last couple of years, he included: “It has actually got harder for me. I can’t do anywhere near the training that I utilized to be able to do. I likewise discovered it hard at times being on start lines understanding that I’m not prepared to the level that I ‘d like to be.
“I suggest, I’m old! I’m 36, have actually done it for a long period of time and there’s a load of other things I wish to finish with my life.”
Alistair will expose more information about what’s next over the coming weeks however gravel cycling and numerous endurance obstacles will no doubt be high up the list.
Asked whether there was a temptation to attempt and include a very first T100 success in 2025, he pointed out: “I believe I most likely might contend for wins in the T100, however there’s so lots of aspects now that are out of my control.
“I most likely can’t beat the extremely leading guys on their days. And somebody like Marten [Van Riel]he would need to have a bad day for me to win.