WAIS triathlete Ryan Bailie has recorded a fifth place finish at the ITU World Triathlon event in Stockholm recently amongst a world class field.
Bailie produced a solid swim and impressive bike leg across the notoriously difficult cobblestones, and was well placed for a medal in the final 10km run before losing touch with the leaders in the closing stages.
The Rio hopeful, who sits firmly in sixth on the WTS World Rankings, admitted the tougher the course the better he likes it and as always he gave it everything he had on the final 10km but in the end he confirmed that he just “ran out of gas.”
“Today didn’t quite go according to plan, but I will get another crack in Chicago, and another performance like today, I would love a podium there,” said Bailie.
“I was pretty surprised with my swim, I didn’t think I was swimming as well as I did, I obviously made that front group which is always important.
“The tougher the course the better for me, I like the tough courses, obviously Auckland is another course I like and Stockholm is another cool race as well.
“We didn’t come here last year….so full marks to the organisers for getting it back this year.
Bailie praised his Australian teammate Aaron Royle, who has already booked his ticket to Rio following a top five finish at the recent Rio Test event, with the Newcastle athlete third in Stockholm.
“It’s exciting to see Aaron on the podium after the year that he’s had. I would have liked to have been there myself but I just wasn’t strong enough over the last two and a half kilometres.
“The first kilometre was pretty quick and I just backed myself that I could back end the last portion of the run.
“I knew I could pull myself back up but (in the end) I just ran out of gas pretty much.
“It’s been tough training after Rio (the Test event) but getting four weeks (training in) before Chicago then hopefully that back end will be stronger before Chicago.”
A delighted Triathlon Australia Performance Manager, Bernard Savage said it was “a great weekend for the Australian program with really encouraging results in both the men and women.”
“Aaron Royle and Ryan Bailie were just fantastic. Aaron committed to the run early, backed himself and got the reward.
“He has built on the confidence gained from his performance in Rio while Ryan continues to improve and has once again put himself in the competitive section of the field.
“He has had such a competitive year and I am sure the breakthrough podium is only just around the corner.
“Both boys have eyes firmly on the World Series Final in Chicago and I am sure will be significantly better there.
-TriathlonAus
