Compatriot Mario Mola gave Gómez a tough battle as the two went back and forth across the 10 kilometre run, and it was the former who kicked into overdrive in the last 100 metres to take the win and finish second overall in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings.

Despite trailing for the majority of the race, South Africa’s Richard Murray pulled himself into third with a superb performance, while France’s Vincent Luis finished fifth in the race for an overall third-place ranking.

"I think it is great," said Gómez.

"I can’t understand it yet, I sometimes can’t comprehend doing something like that in the last few years.

"It is just amazing.

"Today I felt good, I had a great race.

"I felt really good on the race, I just couldn’t beat Mario - he was just too strong.

"But I am really pleased on getting the title and on the podium."

It was Aquathlon world champion Richard Varga of Slovakia that got the day started, grinding out a two-body length lead in the swim.

Great Britain’s Jonathan Brownlee and Australia’s Aaron Royle joined Varga as one of the first athletes out of the water, which gave them a fleeting lead over reigning champion Gómez, who was stuck in a chase pack 14 seconds back for the first lap.

But Gómez wouldn’t let anything come in the way of his fifth world title, and he ended any chance of the leaders staying away by catching them and taking his turn, pulling a nearly 30-man pack along by the second lap, while all the heavy pre-race favourites pedalled away in the front including Luis and Mola.

Out onto the bell lap, Brazil’s Reinaldo Colucci and Switzerland’s Andrea Salvisberg went off the front, along with the United States’ Ben Kanute and The Netherlands’ Maro Van Der Stel for a 35-second advantage.

As the four leaders headed out onto the run, the realisation of the gigantic peloton that was only seconds behind them soon hit home.

While Kanute and Salvisberg were able to hold the pack off for a couple kilometres, the unstoppable Spaniards of Gómez and Mola blew past as they made their way through the transition area.

The pair strode side-by-side, distancing themselves from the field, before taking turns to accelerate up the flank in the final lap of the race.

Giving one last push, Mola finally pulled the trigger in the last 100m and was able to sneak away from Gómez and carry himself into the finish line first with the fastest-ever 10km run split of 28 min 59sec.

Following just four seconds behind was Gómez, who happily accepted the silver medal that still guaranteed his fifth world title.

"I think I have just done one of the best races of my life," said Mola.

"The feeling is amazing.

"Just to be able to run with Javi at the end, I hope the people enjoyed that as much as we did.

"It was an unbelievable race."



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