Another Brownlee domination as Jonny closes the gap

Brothers Jonathan, left, and Alistair Brownlee of Britain during the 2016 during the ITU World Triathlon Series in Stockholm. (Pontus Lundahl/TT via AP)

And just as in their home town of Leeds last month, it was Alistair who led whom brother Jonny to win the sixth-round of the series in Stockholm.

Rio-bound Brownlee edged out his sibling to win in one hour 50 minutes and 33 seconds, crossing the line only 10 seconds ahead on the final run stage. Pierre Le Corre of France secured bronze with a time of 1hr 51mins 30secs.

Ahead of the defence of his Olympic title in Rio next month, Alistair said: “I need to run about a minute faster, which I think I can do in the next six weeks. If I can move my running on it will be my best chance of winning another Olympic medal. I feel my overall performance has been good.”

“I felt good on the run, but then he started putting some digs in, but in first two kilometres I felt okay.

“I knew that my legs were not sparkly and feeling really zoomy, but I just thought that if I could toughen it out on the last kilometre really hard that would be my best chance.”

Sticking with Alistair right until the final metres, Jonny finished the day with silver, meaning the Brownlees have now gone one-two on the World Triathlon Series podium six times, and that was the 11th time they have shared top-three placings.

“I am pleased with how I felt, I thought I had a good chance at beating Alistair because I felt good on the run,” said Jonny, who was second to Alistair at the Commonwealth Games in 2014, and third to his elder brother in the Olympics Games two years earlier.

“We got through the first two laps and I thought, ‘well that five kilometres went really quickly’ and then on that last lap I heard him breathing hard, and obviously with us training together I know when he is trying to hurt.

“So I thought I would give it a go, but then he was just a little bit better than me today.

“I am a little disappointed because I thought I had a good chance at beating him today, but I will come back and try again.”

In the women’s event, Helen Jenkins claimed third place, but fellow British triathlete Non Stanford was unable to complete the course after falling off her bike and suffering a wrist injury.

That will be a concern for Leeds-based Stanford ahead of Rio next month.

Bermuda’s Flora Duffy won gold (2:03:38) with Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand second (2:03:58) and Jenkins third (2:04:06) ahead of GB Olympic team-mate Vicky Holland.