"Typhoon" Silva sweeps Yokohama title
Highlights of the 2012 Yokohama ITU Mens Elite Race
Portugal’s Joao Silva sizzled under the Yokoham sun today, besting Spain’s Javier Gomez on the final lap of the run to take his second consecutive ITU World Triathlon Yokohama win. Russia’s Dmitry Polyanskiyfollowed close behind for bronze just one week after winning the Tongyeong ITU Triathlon World Cup.
“I had a tough season with lots of injures in the beginning. I’m glad I recovered in time for the Olympics and the end of the season,” said Silva. “I’m really, really pleased with this result here. I’m really emotional as some of the best moments of my career are here so I’m really proud to perform like this in Yokohama.”
With a lap and half to go Silva made his move and began to pull away from Polyanskiy. The Russian responded and bridged the gap to join Gomez and Silva up front. By the closing stages Polyanskiy had slightly dropped off the pace and Silva powered ahead, gaining metres over Gomez all the way down the finish chute.
“Javier is a great athlete, but everyone has good days and bad days and sometimes even on a good day things can go wrong, I mean that is racing sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and that’s why we love it,” said Silva. “I won’t shave my beard, it has brought me luck so I’m keeping it.”
ELITE MEN
| 1. | JOAO SILVA | POR |  | 01:48:44 |
| 2. | JAVIER GOMEZ | ESP |  | 01:48:57 |
| 3. | DMITRY POLYANSKIY | RUS |  | 01:49:10 |
| 4. | LAURENT VIDAL | FRA |  | 01:49:23 |
| 5. | DAVID HAUSS | FRA | | 01:49:43 |
| 6. | ADAM BOWDEN | GBR |  | 01:49:55 |
| 7. | TONY MOULAI | FRA | | 01:50:11 |
| 8. | DAVID MCNAMEE | GBR | | 01:50:18 |
| 9. | RICHARD MURRAY | RSA |  | 01:50:23 |
| 10. | HIROKATSU TAYAMA | JPN |  | 01:50:26 |
pics by Delly Carr
