After thunderstorms had caused the men’s junior race to be delayed and shifted to a duathlon, Messias shot past Germany’s Peer Sonksen and France’s Leo Bergere, second and third respectively for their first World Championship podiums, in a feisty battle to the finish.

With the course changing from a sprint triathlon to a two-lap five kilometre run, four-lap 20km cycle and one-lap 2.5km run, more than 65 men started their hunt for gold in front of Buckingham Fountain.

Despite a large group coming into T1 together, it had dwindled down to 14 by the end of the cycle, before the decisive final run changed the race.

Coming around Buckingham Fountain for the final time, it looked like Sonksen would be crowned the fastest man of the day, but Messias managed to pick up his speed in the final metres, scorching past the German just in time to claim the top honours in 51min 50sec.

Earlier in the opening race of the Grand Final event, Australia’s Jacob Birtwhistle separated himself from a five-man front pack in the last lap of the run to win the men’s under 23 crown.

Birtwhistle, who had to settle for junior silver at last year's Grand Final in Edmonton, demonstrated leadership throughout the three disciplines as one of the top men on each leg.

Crossing the finish line to stake out the remaining two spots on the podium was Spain’s David Castro Fajardo with silver and compatriot Nan Oliveras with bronze.

"After the silver medal last year in the juniors I was pretty devastated; I wanted to redeem myself so to speak," said Birtwhistle, who is also set to compete in the elite men’s race on Saturday (September 19).

"I wanted nothing but gold today, so I am really happen to have it and take away the win.

"It has been a pretty good year for me, there has been some ups and definitely some downs in my first year racing the WTS (World Triathlon Series) circuit.

"I have had some really good races and some not too good ones.

"I was happy to start off the season really well domestically in Australia and Oceania and now finish off really well in the worlds."

It wasn’t until the last kilometre that the podium worked itself out as five men raced step-for-step, including the United States’ Kevin McDowell and Great Britain's Gordon Benson.

Birtwhistle conjured up a late burst of energy to sprint ahead and claim first place in 1:40:51 with Castro Fajardo reaching the carpet 14 seconds later. 

Meanwhile in the ITU Age Group Sprint World Championships, nearly 2,000 athletes from more than 40 nations went in search of titles, including the US’s Landon Cassill, a professional NASCAR driver who raced in the men's 25-29 age group category.

At 90 years of age, the US’s Robert Mckeague was the oldest world champion to be crowned on the day.



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