Former St Michael’s Catholic High School pupil Adam Bowden claimed his first major win at yesterday’s Virgin Active London Triathlon.

The 30-year-old former athlete from Watford, who is now based in Loughborough, won the finale of the British Triathlon Super Series over the Olympic distance of a 1500m swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run.

Bowden exited the water in second, heading out onto the bike when he took to the front. He was joined by fellow British athletes Adam Harris, Tom Bishop, Matthew Sharp and Jordan’s Oliver Fanous. This lead group worked together throughout the two-lap ride and took off on the run course in a tight pack.

Sharpe, Harris, Bishop and Bowden quickly broke free at the front of the four-lap run. Bowden and Bishop pushed the pace with a lap to go but at 400 metres, Bowden flew up the hill into the ExCeL Centre to win by four seconds ahead of Bishop and take the first major win of his triathlon career.

A delighted Bowden said: “My swim was phenomenal, I was feeling pretty comfortable out there and for the transition to the bike I was in perfect position, I’ve never felt that advantage before.

“On the bike I stayed towards the front, a few drop-offs in the run and then fought on the attack to hold up the tape. It was a great feeling.”

Bowden, who is part of the British Triathlon Olympic Academy Squad, was ninth in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and also won the Olympic trials two years later.