PTO European Open: Max Neumann delivers stunning late surge to clinch inaugural Ibiza crown as Alistair Brownlee fades

Max Neumann delivered a stunning late surge to topple triathlon kings Alistair Brownlee, Kristian Blummenfelt and Jan Frodeno and clinch the maiden PTO European Open crown in Ibiza. Two-time Olympic champion Brownlee, 35, led for large parts of the middle distance 100km showpiece but was unable to hold on as Tokyo gold medallist Blummenfelt finished second in the Balearic battle.

Ad Magnus Ditlev bagged the bronze medal as Beijing 2008 champion Frodeno, widely regarded as the greatest triathlete of all time, was pipped to the podium by the Dane. European OpenNeumann shows his mettle to win PTO European Open crownAN HOUR AGO Australian ace Neumann, 27, trailed Brownlee and New Zealand’s Kyle Smith heading into the final transition but rapidly reeled them in to ascend the PTO throne’s top spot on the day of King Charles III’s coronation back in the UK.

Run by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), the event was the first time Brownlee, Blummenfelt and Frodeno — the three Olympic champions since the Games in China 15 years ago — had raced against each other as the radical recent start-up bids to enhance the visibility of the sport. And it was Brownlee and Frodeno, 41, who came storming out of the blocks on the swim as Blummenfelt, 29, lagged behind in what is his weakest discipline of the three.

But it was Aussie ace Aaron Royle who set the early aquatic pace as he opened up a healthy advantage heading into the 80km cycle. He was soon leapfrogged by four-time ITU world champion Brownlee, however, who hauled himself to the front of the field alongside Kiwi star Smith.