TIM Don missed out on a home victory but Salford's fifth successive BG World Cup proved another winner.

Huge crowds turned out at the Quays, including Don's Greater Manchester family fan club, to cheer on the world champion.

But despite a determined effort, he had to settle for fourth place.

Javier Gomez won the race for the first time and promises to be a threat when Don defends his world title in Hamburg next month.

"It was a very tough race," said the disappointed Brit.

"I got in the breakaway group but people just didn't work. I did loads of work on the bike but others didn't help.

"I gave it a go which is all I could do. It's hard work on the bike when there are only five or six in the group.

"Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn't. I ran strongly but ran out of gas at the end. Next time I will have them all."

The race attracted most of the world's best triathletes, including World Cup rankings leader Gomez.

"It was a hard race with the wind and it was really fast on the bike, so I had to work really hard," said the Spaniard.

"It's my second time in Salford, the sun is shining and I have enjoyed it so much. The crowd are very good, they cheer the British but they cheer for all the athletes as well.

Elite

"The water was really cold but you don't really think about it when you are racing."

Last year's champion Brad Kahlefeldt finished runner-up with former world champion Simon Whitfield in third.

But the event wasn't only about the elite athletes. There were hundreds of tri enthusiasts who completed their wave races well before the stars entered the spotlight.

Rocco Forte, trained by five times world butterfly champion James Hickman, picked up a medal in his age group category while Commonwealth swimming champion, Alex Scotcher, joined the cast of Emmerdale for the day to help raise money for Leukaemia Research.

And they'll be back next year as Salford has been awarded World Cup status until 2009.

Meanwhile, Ladies champion Vanessa Fernandes won't forget her debut in the Salford event in a hurry.

The prolific Portuguese winner justified her tag as pre-race favourite by becoming the fifth different winner in five years.

However, the teeth of the 21-year-old European champion were still chattering after crossing the line in front of the Lowry Centre.

"The water was so cold I couldn't feel my hands or feet," said the 2006 world championship silver medallist after her fourth World Cup success of the campaign.

"When I left home it was 30 degrees. But I hope to compete at the London Olympics so I will have to get used to it."

Kiwi Samantha Warriner, last year's Salford's champion, finished runner-up with Kate Allen from Austria, taking bronze.

Former GB international runner Andrea Whitcombe was top Brit in fourth.

"I would liked to have got a podium," she said. "But I wasn't really too close and this is my best ever World Cup finish."

Whitcombe, disappointingly for the home supporters, was the only Briton in the top 20.

Scotland's Kerry Lang, first in the swim in 20 min 04 secs, finished 22nd.