Spanish world champion Javier Gomez, known as triathlon's "Tiger Woods," was left licking his wounds on Tuesday after being outfoxed by two wily veterans.

　　The double World Cup series winner and hot favourite, 25, fell away in the final sprint after being hounded all the way by 2000 champion Simon Whitfield, 2004 silver medallist Bevan Docherty as well as eventual winner Jan Frodeno.

　　Afterwards Whitfield said he and Docherty had discussed ways to take down the Spanish whizz kid, who was appearing at his first Olympics.

　　"Bevan and I talked earlier in the year about how the way to beat him was to pile the pressure on him," said Whitfield, 33.

　　"We did that in a competitive way even though we have great respect for him as a friend.

　　"We piled the pressure on him and said he was the favourite. It's his first Olympics and it showed a little bit. But he'll be back. He's a great competitor."

　　Gomez said he tried to pull away in the penultimate running lap but could not lose his three competitors.

　　"I gave it everything I had to give. I tried to charge in the third lap but it wasn't enough. I had nothing more to do," he said.

　　"I didn't run well. It wasn't really my day. I knew it would be hard and it was."

　　Gomez now faces a long wait to gain his revenge at London 2012.

　　"There were three that were faster than me, and that's it. I can just congratulate them I hope I can try it again in four years," he said.

　　"I didn't get it but sport is like that. It's not mathematics."

　　Frodeno was the shock winner in 1hr 48min 53 sec after running down Whitfield in the last straight.