Javier Gómez Noya: «Brownlee is today above the rest, but I will go out and give everything»

In the city where Javier Gómez Noya (Basel, 1983) lives, trains and studies, the European Triathlon Championships will be played on Saturday.

The Ferrol native aspires to his third title in Pontevedra. These days he takes advantage of his free time to disconnect with the biography of Keith Richards, the guitarist of the Rolling Stones - "he is quite a character, and his life is very interesting" -.

His entourage speaks of excellent feelings regarding the reoccurrence of his duel with Alistair Brownlee, although he appeals to caution. The current world champion, as planned, rested last weekend and did not compete in Kitzbühel. «You can rule out a test from the world series, and that was the ideal, due to its proximity to the European Championship. I won in Sydney and in Madrid I was third; "They are two good results and the sensible thing was not to go to be better in Pontevedra."

-He has the experience of the European Cups in Pontevedra. Is it very different to compete at home?

-They were lower level races, and this one is going to be really tough. The best in Europe today are the best in the world too. I know the circuit and the environment. The race will be different.

-But do you have to compete at home?

-Being at home is positive, and not in a hotel, traveling, recognizing the circuit... Here you know everything and it is more comfortable. You also have the support of the public, which is great. Greater expectations are generated and you make more commitments. Everything has positive and negative things. I am happy because it is good for the city and triathlon in Galicia. And as far as possible I'm going to enjoy it. As for the atmosphere in the race, I leave with the mindset to always give 100%. But if you suffer and have so many fans cheering you on, that helps you here.

-Is the circuit going well?

-The cycling sector is not very complicated on a technical level. In the running race, little changes, and there is a section that is done in the opposite direction, with a climb towards A Peregrina that involves a certain slope and can take its toll. I think it will be a fast race. The circuit itself is not demanding, but it will depend on the pace at which we go. It offers places where there can be movements.

-The title belongs to Gómez Noya and Alistair Brownlee. Or do I write some more name?

-There are more people. I think Alistair is the best triathlete in the world and the top favorite. This is what he is demonstrating. And his brother Jonathan is going to be very well. Then there are other people who can join depending on how the race goes, the French, the Russians, the Portuguese João Silva...

"Are you saying the Brownlee thing out of elegance or conviction?"

-Of course he is the favorite. You have to see it in the last races. He was at a level that no one else was at in this sport. His performance in Austria was tremendous: he left the water first, when he got bored in the group he escaped on a bike and then completed the best part on foot. In Madrid he had an incredible career running at a very high level. It is logical to think that he is the favorite. There's others. Brownlee is one point above the rest today, but I will go out and give my all.

-In Madrid he clearly surpassed it. Do you arrive better than then?

-I feel better from training and sensations. It is an objective fact due to the times of the series. I have worked as best as I could. I'm walking fast, in good shape, better than in Madrid, but I have to prove it in the race.

- They prepared the test as a data bank for London 2012, as a general test.

-Yeah. The planning was set to arrive in Pontevedra very well. We store data on everything, times, breaks, sensations. Depending on how it goes, we can vary details to preparation for London, where the title will also be discussed in a single day. Although in 2012 everything will revolve around that.

-Pontevedra and Galicia in general gain experience in triathlon events. The international federation chooses large cities as venues for the World Championship. Do you think it is crazy for someone to come here in the future?

-The international federation look for big cities, and that's fine. But when you have places like Pontevedra, where triathlon moves this amount of people, and stands out at an organizational level, you can change. If there is financial availability and the federation can, this city has more than enough capacity to host the world series. Pontevedra is special, and brings together a larger audience than most of the World Cup events. Only Hamburg surpasses it. I'm not saying that, I live here. All the triathletes say it, they are amazed by the atmosphere despite being a small city.

"I'm in good shape, better than in Madrid, but I have to show it in the race"

"Pontevedra is special, and gathers more public than most of the World Cup events"

Source: www.lavozdegalicia.es