Birtwhistle secures Games triathlon start

Apr 8, 2017 - 8:32 AM This time, Jake Birtwhistle has eliminated any doubts - he is going to the Games.

Like fellow Australian triathlete Ashleigh Gentle, Birtwhistle has put his Rio disappointment behind him by securing an automatic nomination for next year's Commonwealth Games.

On Saturday, Birtwhistle, Gentle and paratriathletes Emily Tapp and Bill Chaffey became the first Australians to earn nominations for next year's Commonwealth Games team.

While they are not confirmed selections yet - that will be ratified closer to the Gold Coast Games - they can start planning for next April.

Birtwhistle gained his nomination by finishing fifth in the men's race at round two of the world triathlon series.

The 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run event at Gold Coast's Southport was the same course to be used for the Games triathlon.

The first Australians to finish in the top 10 on Saturday gained the nominations and Gentle was runner-up to New Zealander Andrea Hewitt in the women's elite race.

Paratriathlon will make its Commonwealth Games debut and Tapp won the women's hand cycle division on Saturday for her nomination, while Chaffey was runner-up in the men's event.

Rio is a bad memory for Gentle and Birtwhistle - she went into the Games with high hopes, only to flounder in the swim and finish 26th.

Birtwhistle was a controversial non-selection, with Ryan Fisher gaining the third spot on the men's team instead.

The 22-year-old Tasmanian had said before Saturday's race that in the wake of Rio, he was determined to take control of his own selection fortunes for the Commonwealth Games as much as possible.

Saturday's fifth placing did exactly that for Birtwhistle, the 2015 under-23 world champion, and is further confirmation that he is a rising star of Australian triathlon.

Fisher made a bold solo attack on the bike during Saturday's race and had a 16-second break at the start of the run.

But he did not survive the first kilometre of the final leg as a five-man group featuring Birtwhistle passed him.

Spaniard Mario Mola went on to successfully defend his Gold Coast title in 52 minutes and 35 seconds, four seconds ahead of South African Richard Murray.

Spanish triathletes dominated, with Fernando Alarza completing the podium at nine seconds and the legendary Javier Gomez finishing fourth.

The lead quartet dropped Birtwhistle on the run and he finished 28 seconds behind Mola.

Fellow Australian Luke William also had a great race to finish sixth, five seconds behind Birtwhistle.

Rio Olympian Ryan Bailie was 16th and Fisher paid for his daring attack, finishing 17th, while compatriot Matthew Hauser took 18th.

Source: AAP