Alistair Brownlee wins triathlon European Championship gold

Alistair Brownlee is aiming to win Commonwealth Games gold for the first time this year

Britain's Alistair Brownlee won his third European Triathlon Championship title in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

The London 2012 gold medallist, 26, pulled away from the pack in the run leg to finish 27 seconds ahead of Russia's Dmitry Polyanskiy.

It was the 26-year-old's first victory of an injury-disrupted season, in an event his brother Jonny and world champion Javier Gomez missed.

"I knew my form was coming back. It was a lot better today," said Brownlee.

"This year was really good until April time when I had a few minor injuries and a bit of illness.

"Now there is the Commonwealth Games in a few weeks' time, which is a big one for me because I haven't won that."

Brownlee completed the race - a 1500m swim, 43.2km cycle and 10km run - in one hour 54 minutes eight seconds to beat Polyanskiy into second, with Spain's Vicente Hernandez third.

David McNamee, who will represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, finished sixth in his first race since a bicycle crash in February.

Switzerland's Nicola Spirig won the women's race on Friday, with Britons Lois Rosindale and Holly Lawrence fifth and 11th respectively.

The Commonwealth Games - to be held in Glasgow - open on 23 July, with the individual triathlon events the following day and the mixed relay on 26 July.