South African Henri Schoeman has claimed gold in the men’s triathlon, with Australia also getting their first medal as Jacob Birtwhistle took home the silver.
Richard Murray and a host of other contenders will aim to put an end to the Brownlee brothers iron grip rule over the men’s triathlon at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Join The Roar for live updates and coverage of the race from 1pm (AEST).
The Brownlee brothers shot to international sporting fame after Alistair helped Jonathan over the finish line in the 2016 World Series, but they have been famous for a lot more than just the one incident on the triathlon circuit.
The pair have dominated every event they have entered, and it showed in the 2014 Glasgow Games, when Alistair took gold on the back of a dominating run ahead of his brother, who had to settle for silver.
While Alistair has never been at the peak of his powers across the course of the season, he has been the man when it comes to single races at big events. He is the reigning Commonwealth and Olympic Games champion, but hasn’t placed in the world series since 2011, despite winning plenty of events.
Jonathan was world champion in 2012 and has won a pair of silver medals since, his consistency seemingly better than that of his brother.
South African Richard Murray will be the key challenger to the brothers though. After placing fourth at the Rio Olympics, he had three placings in nine events last year and is seen as race favourite for the Commonwealth Games after starting 2018 well.
His teammate Henri Schoeman has shown a brilliant start to the new year though, taking out the first world series event in Abu Dhabi. All the other Commonwealth participants were well down the order, so Schoeman could almost enter as favourite.
Jacob Birtwhistle will lead the Aussie charge at success. A former under-23 world champion, the now 23-year-old Tasmanian showed strong form in 2017, consistently finishing at the top of the order.
Of course, without the Spanish duo of Javier Gómez and Mario Mola, along with Frenchman Vincent Luis, it throws the race open somewhat and there are plenty of others who are well down the order of favourites who might cause an upset.
Prediction
With the Brownlee brothers aiming to work in tandem throughout the race and then fight it out between themselves on the run leg, one of them should pick up the win. Murray and Schoeman will put up strong fights, but given his superior run, it’s hard to get past Alistair.
Alistair Brownlee to make it two Commonwealth Games golds in a row.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2018 men’s Commonwealth Games triathlon from 1pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Maggie
Guest
That’s so disappointing, most of all for Sally. She has worked so hard to come back from unfortunate injuries and now this.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon on The Roar for our continuing live coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games as Henri Schoeman got the better of Aussie Jake Birtwhistle at the end of the men's triathlon. Hopefully you enjoyed the race and call. I'll be back at 4:30pm (AEST) this afternoon for some hockey, as Australia's Hockeyroos take on Canada in their tournament opener. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
And tomorrow, here is what is on the menu. 10:30am - Day 2 swimming heats 5:30pm - Men's basketball - Australia vs Canada 7pm - Day 2 track cycling finals 7:30pm - Day 2 swimming finals 8:30pm - Netball - Australia vs Barbaddos 9pm - Women's basketball - Australia vs Mozambique
Scott Pryde
Expert
Here are the rest of the events The Roar will be covering live this afternoon and evening. 4:30pm – Women’s hockey – Australia vs Canada 7pm – Swimming Night 1 finals 7pm – Track Cycling Night 1 finals 8:30pm – Netball – Australia vs Northern Ireland
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULL RESULTS 1. Henri Schoeman (South Africa) @ 52:31 2. Jacob Birtwhistle (Australia) + 0:07 3. Marc Austin (Scotland) + 0:13 4. Matthew Hauser (Australia) + 0:15 5. Ryan Sissons (New Zealand) + 0:18 6. Richard Murray (South Africa) + 0:33 7. Jonathan Brownlee (England) + 0:38 8. Luke William (Australia) + 1:02 9. Matthew Sharpe (Canada) + 1:03 10. Alistair Brownlee (England) + 1:06
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full results in a moment.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Got the top two though! Great tip.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the race Roarers?
Matthew McKenzie
Roar Rookie
I was close :-)
Scott Pryde
Expert
So, Australia's medal count is underway at the Games. Birtwhistle gets silver and Hauser just misses out.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that was a superb race. Schoeman dominant, Birtwhistle with his comeback and then Austin fighting away, hanging on and staying ahead of Brownlee and the young Aussie Hauser for the bronze.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers Duck! Great race that.
Scott Pryde
Expert
HENRI SCHOEMAN WINS MEN'S TRIATHLON Brilliant work from Schoeman. He crosses the line in first, just a matter of seconds ahead of Jake Birtwhistle. Austin comes over in third, then it was Hauser. Awful afternoon for the Brownlee brothers, who both miss the medals all together.
Scott Pryde
Expert
0 hours, 52 minutes Birtwhistle has kicked clear of Austin for second spot now, so Australia should get their first medal of the Games as they come up the final straight. There is no catching Schoeman though. He made the first group on the bike and then charged away at the start of the run. He has held dominance over the five kilometres and was never going to be caught.
Scott Pryde
Expert
0 hours, 51 minutes Birtwhistle ups the pace again trying to shake Austin, but he can't this time. Austin hangs in behind, but with 500 metres to go, the chance of gold is gone. Schoeman will win it.
Scott Pryde
Expert
0 hours, 50 minutes Oh wow, Brownlee has been dropped. There will be no English medalist by the looks of it, with Austin struggling to hang onto Birtwhistle in the battle for second. Brownlee now running alongside Hauser in fourth spot.
Scott Pryde
Expert
0 hours, 50 minutes Birtwhistle, Brownlee and Austin hear about 15 seconds behind Schoeman here, who looks solid enough and should hang on, but weirder things have happened.
Scott Pryde
Expert
0 hours, 49 minutes Birthistle is now sitting on the front of the Brownlee group in second place. He is closing fast, with Hauser running alongside Murray in fifth and sixth place back there.
Scott Pryde
Expert
0 hours, 48 minutes Oh wow! Birtwhistle is on fire for Australia. He has dropped Murray, gone around Hauser and just about caught the duo of Austin and Brownlee, who appear to be slowly closing the gap on Schoeman.
Scott Pryde
Expert
0 hours, 48 minutes Brownlee still can't shake a laboured looking Austin for second at the moment, but the chance for either of them to get gold is disappearing in a hurry now.