Spaniard Mario Mola started the ITU World Triathlon Series in style with victory in the season-opening event in Abu Dhabi.

The 26-year-old sauntered to victory at the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club, crossing the finish line in 1:46:39, ahead of South African training team-mate Richard Murray and Portugal’s Joao Silva, who finished 15 and 29 seconds behind respectively.

“It’s great to be racing in the UAE and it’s a great stop for us. The atmosphere of the people was a dream for us,” Mola told Sport360.com as he got his 2016 campaign off to a perfect start in a big Olympic year.

During the race, athletes honoured the late triathlete and coach Laurent Vidal, who passed away last year, by wearing his initials on their tri-suits and placing a flower on the first bike position at the transition point.