KAHLEFELDT SHINES THROUGH IN KITZBUHEL GLOOM
While all eyes were on the return of Chris McCormack at the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series round in Kitzbuhel, Austria last night it was fellow Aussies Brad Kahlefeldt and Jamie Huggett who shone through in the dismal, wintery conditions. McCormack, at 38 returned to Olympic distance racing for the first time in seven years and just two weeks after winning the Ironman Distance Challenge Cairns event, but was left behind with the speed of a new generation.
The two-time Hawaiian Ironman World Champion was lost in the wash, saying: "It was an empty tank for me today 13 days after the Ironman (in Cairns). These kids are fast. I had nothing."
Towards the tail of the 65-strong field at the conclusion of the two-lap 1500m swim, McCormack was forced to play catch up and never recovered, withdrawing two laps into the bike, as the man of the moment, Britain's Alistair Brownlee went about destroying the world class field.
Brownlee was at the forefront from the open dive and only let up towards the end of the run when he started thinking about the up-coming European Championships.
It was one of the most thorough, dominant performances the sport has ever seen in conditions far from conducive to fast racing - but Brownlee was superb.
But very much in the mix from the outset was Australia's Beijing Olympian and this year's Mooloolaba World Cup winner Kahlefeldt, determined to improve on his disappointing showings in Sydney and Madrid.
Kahlefeldt was on the money from the opening swim, hung in on the bike and battled on in the rainy, wind swept conditions to finish an encouraging fifth, with 20-year Victorian Huggett producing a creditable 22nd in an experienced field.
Young Queenslander James Seear, working his way back into racing after a shoulder operation earlier in the year, hung in to finish 44th.
"I'm relieved to be back in the mix that's for sure," said Kahlefeldt. "The rain, freezing cold and the cramping didn't help but it's encouraging to know I'm back and looking forward to Hamburg and London."
With temperatures dropping to 17 degrees, Brownlee was first out of the water and then stayed at the front of a huge 50-man peloton
for five laps before making a break with fellow countryman Stuart Hayes and emerging Brazilian Reinaldo Colucci with two laps remaining.
Those three then hit T2 with a gap of 30 seconds on the rest of the field, just as the rain started to pour. From there Brownlee was simply too good and too fast for the rest of the field, dropping Colucci and Hayes in the first lap. It's the second time Brownlee has won Kitzbühel, he won in 2009 before finishing 40th in 2010.
While the gold medal race was as good as over, there was a thrilling battle for the other podium places as Kahlefeldt, Russian Alexander Brukhankov and Switzerland's Sven Riederer, Britain's Will Clarke and ever-present Frenchman Laurent Vidal ran through and passed Hayes and Colucci in the first few kilometres.
Around the 5km mark, Brukhankov made a break and stayed clear to claim silver. Riederer then made his break on the bell lap, holding on to claim his second bronze medal for the 2011 season - after also finishing third in Sydney.
Australian National Head Coach Shaun Stephens admitted the Australian results were certainly an improvement from Madrid.
"We will continue to refine the preparation requirements for each athlete with the goal of being in top shape in August," said Stephens, who was delighted with Kahlefeldt and Huggett, but still concerned with Courtney Atkinson, who was also forced to withdraw during the run and who will now return to the Gold Coast to train with Craig Walton.
"Brad raced extremely well for a hard fought fifth place. He entered the race with little race confidence behind him, but knew he was in good shape from his training and he produced a terrific turn around from a disappointing performance in Madrid.
"He was well positioned out of the water, held good position in a solid ride, and pushed the pace early on the run.
"Jamie Huggett was the other highlight with a very impressive 22nd place. For a relatively young athlete, Jamie raced with maturity and composure and fought hard through the run.
"Courtney Atkinson was extremely disappointed after being well positioned in third place out of the water, struggled with the cold and wet conditions and withdrew half way into the run leg. 
"Chris McCormack found the speed of the swim too much and was losing time to the lead pack on the bike before retiring from the race.
"The residual fatigue from completing an ironman two weeks prior and lack of speed work in training meant he was unable to be competitive in the race and he decided to withdraw."
But the day belonged to the leader of the new generation, Brownlee who is a man transforming the sport on the run and will remain, along with brother Jonathan, the man on everyone's lips as he chases Great Britain's first Olympic triathlon gold in London next year.
Brownlee responded to comments that he was changing the sport, saying it was the best feedback he could receive.
"It's fantastic, it's the ultimate compliment" he said. "I looked at the sport and I thought I want to be a kind of athlete who can win in any condition on any day, on any course, independent of how the race goes, and I think that's what I'm trying to do at the moment. I raced hard out of the swim today, I managed to get away at the end of the bike, and then had a good run today too, so it's great winning in every situation."
Few can argue.
The women's race will start at 8.30pm tonight AEST with defending world champion Emma Moffatt joined by Anabelle Luxford, Erin Densham and Felicity Abram in conditions, organisers are tipping to remain wintery in the Austrian summer. -IAN HANSON
Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Kitzbühel - June 18, 2011 Final Results - Elite Men
Gold - Alistair Brownlee (GBR) - 1:51:54
Silver - Alexander Brukhankov (RUS) - 1:52:38
Bronze - Sven Riederer (SUI) - 1:52:59
4th - William Clarke (GBR) - 1:53:08
5th - Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) - 1:53:10
6th - Laurent Vidal (FRA) - 1:53:13
7th - Vladimir Turbaevskiy (RUS) 1:53:17
8th - Dmitry Polyanksy (RUS) - 1:53:20
9th - Vincent Luis (FRA) - 1:53:23
10th - Bevan Docherty (NZL) - 1:53:26