Speaking after the race, Brownlee admitted that was his hardest race of the season adding "It's absolutely amazing. I couldn't have asked for anything more. Every athlete in every race wants to win and I really wanted to win the world title."

Starting what became a thrilling individual race, Brownlee knew that 5th place would secure him the overall world title. The 21-year old ensured he was well positioned throughout the race, finishing the 1.5km swim in 3rd place and staying with the main peloton of riders on the bike phase. In the final phase, a 10km run, Alistair went head-to-head with closest rival Javier Gomez - the only man who has beaten him in a race this season. On the final lap with less than 1km to go, Brownlee made his move and Gomez was unable to respond. Brownlee crossed the finish line with a 6 second lead.

The 21 year-old, who graduated this summer with a 2:1 in Sport and Exercise Science from Leeds University is also coached by Malcolm Brown, Carnegie Director of Sport & Associate Dean at nearby Leeds Metropolitan University. Alistair’s younger brother Jonathan is also a student at the University of Leeds, where the pair train together. Jonathan finished second in the junior men’s event of the same competition in Australia. Both favour the climate, facilities and expertise available in Yorkshire over foreign alternatives and camp location, “I'm also very lucky to live in Yorkshire … If it was five degrees warmer and rained less, it might be better, but it's fantastic here.”

With less than three years to go before London 2012, Brownlee adds the senior world championship to junior and under-23 titles he already has to his name, and becomes only the fourth British Male World Triathlon Champion. His hugely successful 2009 season has built on an excellent performance at the Beijing Olympics where he finished as top Briton in 12th place. Commenting on the depth of British Triathlon talent, Brownlee said, “Hollie won yesterday [too], it’s a brilliant time for us with how Olympic sport is going, and it’s really exciting coming up to London [2012]”

Loughborough University student Hollie Avil claimed the World U23 Triathlon title this weekend at the same event. The Loughborough sports scholar, who was the World Junior Triathlon Champion in 2007 said, “When you win a race like that, working hard and really pushing the bike for the whole 40km and then getting off and nailing 10km of running, it feels great”.