Schoeman builds on Rio success, triumphs in Mexico

Henri Schoeman raced to his maiden World Triathlon Series victory at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Cozumel, Mexico. EPA/VICTOR RUIZ

Henri Schoeman raced to his maiden World Triathlon Series victory at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Cozumel, Mexico. EPA/VICTOR RUIZ

Published Sep 19, 2016

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In a dramatic finish Henri Schoeman raced to his maiden World Triathlon Series victory at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Cozumel, Mexico this morning.

Only a month after winning the Olympic bronze medal behind British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee in Rio de Janeiro, Schoeman managed to get a win over the pair.

Chasing the overall series title Jonathan was in the lead with a kilometres still to go before the heat had taken its toll on the Olympic silver medalist.

Schoeman going toe-to-toe with two-time Olympic champion Alistair moved past a flailing Jonny to race to his first WTS win.

Alistair aided his brother over the home stretch pushing his brother over the line for second place relegating him to third.

“It was a tough race in the heat, and I wasn't feeling good, sluggish but I kept my cool on the run,” Schoeman told Independent Media on Monday morning.

“Patience paid off and I’m really happy to have come out on top and the strongest athlete on the day. I couldn’t have asked for a better end to my year.”

Meanwhile, Richard Murray hovered before the line waiting for Spanish training partner Maria Mola, who clinched the 2016 ITU World Championship title finishing the race in fifth place.

The race was almost a repeat of the Rio Games where Schoeman was among the first athletes out of the water joining the Brownlees in a group of nine men on the bikes shortly after the transition.

Jonathan was first out on the run with Schoeman trailing behind him with Alistair joining them on the third lap before the dramatic finish saw the South African race to victory.

The Spanish Triathlon Federation appealed for Jonathan to be disqualified for accepting assistance from his brother.

However, the ITU Competition Jury ruled that athletes can receive assistance from other athletes and he was subsequently cleared

Independent Media

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