France’s Bergere wins triathlon world title

France’s Leo Bergere was crowned triathlon world champion on Saturday in a nerve-jangling finale in Abu Dhabi with a little help from a Belgian rival.

The European champion had the cards stacked against him, arriving for the seasondecider in the Gulf state placed third behind New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde and Briton

Alex Yee.

To claim the title Bergere needed to win with Wilde finishing out of the first five and Yee off the podium.

With 400m to go Wilde was champion until he was passed by Matthew Hauser.

That left the title going to Yee until he was overtaken in the shadow of the post by Belgian Jelle Geens who took third to confirm race winner Bergere as world champion.