A year after making the World Triathlon Series podium, Tasmanian Jake Birtwhistle had to settle for sixth place.
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The Launceston 24-year-old enjoyed his first two victories in the series earlier this year, but finished his globe-trotting campaign with a disappointing 26th place finish at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Lausanne, Switzerland.
After an impressive swim and a tactical bike leg, the multiple Australian running champion uncharacteristically found himself in trouble on the run.
Birtwhistle finished third in the series in 2018 en route to being named Tasmanian athlete of the year.
Compatriots Aaron Royle, Ryan Fisher and Ryan Bailie finished 16th, 17th and 18th respectively on what was arguably the toughest course of the WTS this season.
Ashleigh Gentle and Jaz Hedgeland came 22nd and 25th respectively in the women's race.
Paddling
Tasmanian Kate Eckhardt is through to the C1 semi-finals of the Canoe Slalom World Cup in Markkleeberg, Germany.
The 22-year-old, of Hobart's Derwent club, was due to race on Sunday night (Tastime) along with compatriots Noemie and Jessica Fox.
Eckhardt finished 32nd in the K1 event in which Jess Fox claimed a silver medal.
The fourth world cup will be followed by a final in the Czech capital Prague on September 6-8 before the world championships in La Seu, Spain (September 25-29) and Olympic test event in Tokyo (October 25-27).
Cycling
Richie Porte may be 11 minutes off the pace in his first race since completing his ninth Tour de France, but is helping to keep a teammate in the lead.
In his return to the saddle since finishing 11th on the Champs Elysees, Launceston's Monaco-based 34-year-old is sitting 49th in the Deutschland Tour, 11:05 behind his Trek-Segafredo teammate Jasper Stuyven, of Belgium, who took the lead on the third of four stages from Gottingen to Eisenach.
The final stage through the German countryside takes the remaining 122 riders over 159km from Eisenach to Erfurt.
Soccer
Pat Sullivan has swapped Prospect Park for the Keyworth Stadium in Detroit.
The tall centre-back, who formed a formidable partnership with captain Lindsay Millington for Launceston City in the NPL Tasmania earlier this season, has played his first match since returning to his native US.
Sullivan has joined the Philadelphia Fury in the National Independent Soccer Association, a new professional league approved by the US Soccer Federation.
The Fury's campaign kicks off in earnest next week at the University of Pennsylvania's historic football stadium, Franklin Field.
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