Alistair Brownlee withdraws from World Triathlon Series in Leeds with injury
- Published
Alistair Brownlee was England's flagbearer at April's Commonwealth Games
World Triathlon Mixed Relay |
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Venue: Nottingham Date: 7 June Start time: 18:20 BST |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Red Button, Connected TVs, BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on BBC1 on 9 June at 13:15 BST. |
World Triathlon Series |
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Venue: Leeds Date: 10 June Start time: 13:00 BST |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, BBCiPlayer, Connected TV, BBC Sport website and app |
Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has withdrawn from Sunday's World Triathlon Series in Leeds because of injury.
The 30-year-old Briton, who has won both races to be held in his home town, said he has "had a few niggles".
"I won't be able to compete to the best of my ability," said two-time world champion Brownlee.
Younger brother Jonny will race, having twice finished second to Alistair in Leeds.
"It's always super special," said 28-year-old Jonny.
"Unfortunately Alistair's had a bit of back luck over the last couple of months with injuries that aren't getting any better.
"It's a shame for me because I've enjoyed racing with Alistair in Leeds, I've enjoyed going through the whole event together and we race similarly tactically.
"To miss that big driving force on the bike is a big disappointment.
"It gives someone else an opportunity to win but if anything it might have reduced my chances slightly because he's the one who likes to make the swim and bike hard and get a group away, and hopefully I would have been able to run faster than him this time."
Defending women's champion Flora Duffy has also withdrawn because of injury.
Jonny Brownlee and Vicky Holland helped Britain win a silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Jonny Brownlee, who has won Olympic silver and bronze medals, will team up with Rio bronze medallist Vicky Holland at the World Triathlon Mixed Relay in Nottingham on Thursday.
They have been named as part of the Great Britain squad alongside former world champion Non Stanford, two-time Commonwealth champion Jodie Stimpson and Tom Bishop.
They are looking for qualification points before the event making its Olympic debut in 2020.
Last year Brownlee made the podium only twice and in April finished seventh at the Commonwealth Games.
"I just raced awful on the day at the Commonwealths," he said. "This time I wasn't good enough to have a bad day.
"It was a real opportunity to win a gold medal, and that hurt. It was a shock. We had got it right on every big occasion before."