It has also built on the city\u2019s legacy as the home of the Brownlee brothers. Almost every year a race has taken place, one or both of the Brownlees \u2013 Alistair <\/a><\/strong>and Jonny<\/a><\/strong>\u2013 has hit the headlines.<\/p>\n Sparks seem to fly whenever a Brownlee is on the start line in Leeds and the fireworks are even louder in front of a partisan home crowd.<\/p>\n These races have also become a microcosm of their careers: dominating from the front\u00a0in the early years, becoming more frayed at the edges as time wears on.<\/p>\n A glorious first race in 2016 couldn\u2019t have gone more to plan. Alistair, returning from injury just two months before the Rio Olympics, engineered a four-man breakaway with Jonny to distance arch-rival Javier G\u00f3mez before the brothers ran to a one-two finish<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Alistair took the tape and it was a sign of intent for the Olympic Games that followed in August where they repeated the feat<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cUnbelievable!\u201d was Alistair\u2019s response in the aftermath to Leeds. \u201cI have said that the [London] Olympics was the best race I have ever raced in, but now I think that just beat it. The run was absolutely phenomenal, by far the best World Series there has ever been.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a similar picture the next year, where it was just the two of them holding on in front on the bike. And it was just long enough to reach the technical section of the city centre that made it more tricky for the chasing pack to catch. Again, Alistair first, Jonny second<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2018, with Alistair absent, Jonny pulled out on the run with a stomach bug<\/strong><\/a>. The next year, although both were present, the growing strength in depth of the sport was emerging. Both faltered on the final leg<\/strong><\/a>, Alistair again dicing with injury just to make an appearance.<\/p>\n With the 2020 race cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 was Alistair\u2019s final chance to make the squad for the Tokyo Olympics.<\/p>\n But clearly hampered by injury, it became a jog to the finish alongside the ignominy of a disqualification for dunking the American Chase McQueen in the swim<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n It was to be Alistair\u2019s last bow at short-course racing. Jonny was ninth as Brit Alex Yee<\/strong><\/a> took his first World Series win<\/strong><\/a> and laid down a marker for Tokyo.<\/p>\n In June 2022 it was a crash and injury that stole the headlines<\/strong><\/a>, Jonny brought down in an incident that left him with a broken elbow<\/strong><\/a>, Yee also hitting the deck, and eventual winner Hayden Wilde<\/strong><\/a> of New Zealand apologising for his role in it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt all happened very quickly,\u201d Jonny reflects. \u201cOn the uphill section, the pack grouped together. An athlete tried to get through a small gap. He hit the handlebars of another athlete who then flew sideways and crashed into me. I went over my front wheel and hit the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cInitially, I thought I could continue, but I realised quickly that I\u2019d broken my elbow \u2013 and my bike. I was so upset to not be able to perform in Leeds.\u201d<\/p>\n Victories, illness, injury, DSQs (disqualifications) and DNFs (did not finishes). It\u2019s been quite the ride for the Brownlees, but they\u2019re not ready for it to be over yet.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The amateur footage of the crash in Leeds shows just how serous it could have been. Does Jonny believe more should be done to improve safety?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I don\u2019t think athletes actively go out to injure other athletes, but certain athletes are taking too many risks and not looking out for others. I\u2019ve ridden my bike pretty much every day for 20 years in triathlons, training and bike racing. However, I\u2019ve only ever crashed in World Series racing.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSwim behaviour is monitored but there are no repercussions for dangerous riding. I think we need a commissaire role to monitor the situation and prevent incidents from happening. Also, athletes need to look out for one another better. We all want to race, but race in a safe way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section>The Brownlees\u2019 many injury woes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>SAFETY FIRST?<\/h4>\n