Leeds Triathlon: Let's come back to Leeds next year, urge triumphant Brownlee brothers

Olympic champion Alistair led home younger brother Jonny in a Brownlee one-two that provided a fitting finale on an uplifting weekend of amateur and elite sport in the city.

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American Gwen Jorgensen won the women’s race earlier in the day but it was the Brownlees who were the headline attraction – and they did not disappoint in their home city.

And after laying down a marker for the Rio Olympics later this summer, both have now thrown their weight behind the World Series returning to Leeds next year.

“Fingers crossed it comes back again next year,” said Alistair, who claimed the 20th world series win of his remarkable career.

“I think we’ve definitely shown the Yorkshire hospitality with the crowds.

“The crowds here blows any previous World Series or Grand Final crowd out the water, they were probably five times as big and that’s not exaggerating it.

“Hopefully a few people will have been inspired to go out and try triathlon.

“The crowd definitely lifted me. What ever happened today would have gone down as one of the highlights of my career.”

Jonny added: “Bring it back to Leeds. The World Series goes to places where triathlon is welcomed and Leeds has really welcomed triathlon this weekend.

“To have four, five people deep, and noise all the way around is incredible.”

A decision on whether Leeds will host a leg of the World Series in 2017 will be made later this year.

By then the Brownlee brothers hope to once again have dominated the Olympic podium, having won gold through Alistair and bronze with Jonny at London 2012.

Two months out from Rio, Leeds saw a timely return to form for the all-conquering siblings.

“It was very important for us both,” said Jonny.

“We’ve had a couple of really tough years, getting beaten heavily sometimes, so to come and put a performance in like that is very, very important.

“We cycled harder than anyone and were willing to run harder than anyone. To come first and second is a good marker.”