Best of 2016: Men's Bike

The 2016 triathlon season was a year that the world will never forget. From the World Triathlon Series, World Cups, World Championships and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was a busy year that produced nothing short of unbelievable moments.

Over the next few weeks we will be naming the “Best of 2016” moments from the year, anything from top performances to inspirational finishes, because when you have a year like we just had, you have to celebrate it.

Men’s Bike: Alistair Brownlee (GBR) waiting for Jonny in Leeds

The whole world was inspired by the Brownlee brothers when Alistair helped his younger brother Jonny cross the finish line in Cozumel, but what the world forgot was that moment in Mexico was not the first time that Alistair was there for Jonny in his racing time of need.

The World Triathlon Series headed to Leeds, the English hometown of the Brownlees, for the first time on the circuit. And when the Brownlees racing foe, Spaniard Javier Gomez, was signed up to toe the line, the pressure to perform in front of their family and friends was high. So when Alistair made it out of the swim and was in the front pack on the bike and did not see his brother with him, he had no choice but to slow down and wait for Jonny, because as everyone knows - two brothers is better than one.

The risky strategy did end up paying off for both men, as both men were able to ride back into the lead group, which went on to open a gap so large Gomez couldn’t get to the front. Alistair then went on to win the gold, with Jonny coming in right behind for the silver.

Honourable Mention: Andreas Schilling (DEN) and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) in Stockholm

WTS Stockholm saw two names make a statement on the bike and put themselves on the map to earning a “Best of” bike award!

Kristian Blummenfelt and Andreas Schilling were riding in the lead pack, but the numbers were adding up. So the two broke away in the final laps and rode together as a duo and gained about a 20 second lead over the rest of the field heading into the second transition.

Blummenfelt has been making a name for himself as a stealthy cyclist ever since his break away with Alistair at the Grand Final in Edmonton two years ago. He also broke away in Cagliari over a technically and physically challenging bike course to win his first World Cup. He again put in a top performance on the swim and bike at the Montreal World Cup to score his second world title of the year.