World triathlon champion Brownlee suffers stress fracture

GREAT Britain's Alistair Brownlee has been ruled out of the first two stages of the defence of his World Triathlon Championships crown with a femoral stress fracture.

TOO GOOD: Alistair Brownlee is pictured in the closing stages of the London leg of the World Championships Series in Hyde Park - a race he won comfortbably (OnEdition)

The 21-year-old won all four legs of the World Championships in which he entered before romping to victory in the season finale on the Gold Coast.

Brownlee was a member of the Great Britain team at the European Cross-Country Championships in Dublin this winter but has since suffered the stress fracture and will be ruled out of the stages in Sydney and Seoul.

"As an athlete, getting the best out of myself means pushing myself to the edge of my limits," said Brownlee.

"Unfortunately, sometimes you cross the line and injury is inevitable. While the worst part is not being able to do what I love every day, I am pleased with my rehab to date.

"My primary focus is to get fit and healthy and I really hope to be racing in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series race in Madrid in June."

Brownlee is hoping to make a return to the series in Madrid on June 5 at the scene of one of his four stage victories last year.