The Brownlee brothers were given top-billing for what was likely their last World Series on British soil but Alex Yee stole the show with a sensational triathlon triumph.
Yee produced the performance of his life to win his first ever World Series gold and edge closer to a place at the Tokyo Olympics.
The lad from Lewisham demolished the entire field in the 10K run and even had time to wave at friends in the crowd en route to crossing the line 25 seconds clear.
Just 23, he’s targeting a place in his first ever Olympics this summer – with at least one men’s spot still be filled alongside Jonny Brownlee – and, understandably, he was delighted.
“That’s the best feeling I have ever had in my life,” he said.
It’s GOLD🥇 for @Lixsanyee as he takes his first ever World Series win at AJ Bell 2021 World Triathlon Championship Series, Leeds.
— British Triathlon (@BritTri) June 6, 2021
Massive congratulations to him on that absolutely phenomenal performance.#WTCSLeeds pic.twitter.com/ZQAm2paRhO
“To do that in front of fans once again and so many people I haven’t seen since Covid struck was really special. That was for all of them and I am glad sport is returning to the way it should be.
“When I got to the top of the hill, I felt like my legs were really flowing. It is hard to explain how it feels but it just kind of happened, I felt really good.
“Whatever happens with selection, I have so much respect for Alistair and all the other guys I am battling against there. They are my mentors and have helped me grow.”
Jonny Brownlee was the second Brit to cross the line in ninth and he says he has work to do if he wants to bag a third Olympic medal this summer.
Earlier this week, he confirmed this would be his last Olympics and so this was probably his last home race.
His older brother and the two-time reigning Olympic champion Alistair, who is yet to book his place on the plane, appeared in fine shape during the swim and led the field out of the first transition onto the bike.
His charged faded during the run though and he was out of contention when word came that he had been disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct during the swim.
Video replays showed Brownlee making contact with Chase McQueen in the water but, though disqualified, he soaked up the applause and finished the race.
"I had to finish today because I am pretty certain that was my last World Series race," he said.
"I have done everything I can in the last few months [to qualify for Tokyo] and needed a bit of luck today but didn't get it.
"Over the last three months I have asked myself why I am trying to go to the Olympics but a friend pointed out to me that is the beauty of it.
"I love it and I want to compete. I wanted one more spin of the dice but it hasn't worked out."
In the women’s race, Jessica Learmonth continued to build towards her first Olympic Games with a silver medal.
The 2019 World Series silver medallist was pipped to the line in an energy-sapping sprint by finish by Dutch athlete Maya Kingma and says she can take a lot of confidence into Tokyo 2020.
“As usual, I’m fairly surprised. I came into it thinking I just wanted a solid race, to be honest,” she said.
“I wanted to work hard on the bike and the swim and that set me up nicely.
“I was able to relax on the run a bit as I had a bit of a buffer and I was able to enjoy myself up until the last lap, when I absolutely died.
“To see there were a lot of crowds there was great and as usual, I just love Leeds.”
Learmonth was joined on the podium by fellow Brit Sophie Coldwell, who finished in third.