Pedal power pushes Hayes to Kitzbuehel victory

WORLD champion Alistair Brownlee finished a distant 40th at the World Championship Series in Kitzbuehel but there was still a British winner - Stuart Hayes claiming a surprise breakaway victory.

PEDAL POWER: Stuart Hayes produced a brilliant ride on the bike to lay the foundations for his victory in Austria (triathlon.org)

Hayes was part of a five-man break on the bike, which was able to build a lead of nearly two minutes at the second transition. He then burst clear on the run to clock a winning one hour, 52 minute and 32 second time.

"The only way I can win these races is to get away on the bike, otherwise there's no chance for me," said Hayes. 

"Either I get away and it works or I end up near last place because I gave everything I had trying to get away. That's the way I like to race.

"I'm trying to change the mentality of the pack. A lot of guys just like to sit and wait for the run, but I'm trying to change that by biking as hard as I can. Hopefully that will make the bike more of a factor in the future."

Spain's Javier Gomez claimed second but paid credit to Hayes for the manner of his victory.

"I knew a group would breakaway today," he said.

"I tried to be part of a break early on, but it didn't work out. That was too much time to give guys like Stuart-he's too strong of a runner."

Germany's Jan Frodeno was third to maintain his overall advantage heading into the decisive season-ending finale in Budapest.

"It was a very tough race," he said. 

"It was an honest bike course and that made the run especially tough. I take my hat off to Stuart-that was a great performance. I always enjoy seeing guys win with a breakaway on the bike like that."