Alistair Brownlee: Olympic triathlon champion wins on long-distance debut

Alistair Brownlee defended his Olympic title at the Rio Games of 2016

Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee marked his debut in long-distance triathlons with victory in the Challenge Gran Canaria.

The 29-year-old won in four hours three minutes nine seconds, more than eight minutes faster than Belgium's Pieter Heemeryck, with fellow Briton Mark Buckingham third.

In the women's race, Britain's Emma Pallant claimed victory from compatriot Lucy Charles, finishing in 4:35:15.

Switzerland's Daniela Ryf was third.

The race in the Canary Islands involved swimming 1.9km, cycling 90km and running a half-marathon (13.1 miles or 21.09km).

Brownlee used the event as preparation for May's Ironman 70.3 North American Championships in St. George, Utah.

The Ironman 70.3 event is half the regular Ironman distance.

The men's Olympic triathlon - which Brownlee won in 2012 and 2016 - involves a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle and 10km run.