There was simply no denying the
imperious Flora Duffy a second WTCS Bermuda gold on Sunday afternoon in
Hamilton, nor the thousands of fans lining the streets of the capital desperate
to help cheer their hero to glory.
Chasing a record fourth world title,
Duffy knew that a win here and again in Abu Dhabi would make that goal a
reality and set about the task with her trademark focus from the very first strokes
of the swim. Hitting the front and riding solo on the first laps of the bike,
she was joined by Maya Kingma and the two hauled each other round the remainder
of the bike, combining perfectly to keep the rest of the field – and
specifically Taylor Knibb – at bay.
Knibb was able to power into third by
the end of the bike but onto the run could only catch the injury affected
Kingma, Duffy running the full 10km solo to a rapturous reception down the blue
carpet, GB’s Beth Potter powering her way to bronze and another excellent
podium in 2022.
“Today was incredible,” said a
beaming Flora Duffy afterwards. “I couldn’t have asked for a better race. I was
hoping to have a good day, the crowd was amazing, but racing at home as Olympic
Champion I knew I needed a big performance. It was one of those days where
everything lined up, I was just so thankful for Maya on the bike who was so
strong, and the crowd pulled me through on that 10km run. It was really
difficult to keep my composure and then that last lap I was just able to soak
it in and enjoy it.”
Duffy took to the far left of the
pontoon as the chop was starting to pick up for the 47 women taking up their
starting positions, Potter by the race number one’s side.
Rising Italian star Bianca Seregni
was leading at the first exit with Duffy right behind, Brazil’s Vittoria Lopes
and USA’s Summer Rappaport following them up the ramp and then back in for the
second lap.
Knibb was 22 seconds back at that
stage, and 32 seconds by the end of lap two as the field strung out, while up
ahead, GB’s Sophie Coldwell was the closest of the chasers to getting out in
time to catch Duffy’s wheels but along with Rappaport, Seregni, Kingma and
Lopes soon found herself chasing the Olympic Champion’s shadows.
As Taylor Spivey joined that group,
so Kingma then pulled clear to bridge up to Duffy, a welcome sight for the
Bermudian not wanting another 40km solo ride to keep Knibb at arm’s length. The
rain came down, and that pair scythed through the course even more effectively,
while Knibb took a little longer to catch the chasers.
Not that it took long for the
American to do so, and just as quickly as she had joined them, she was out the
other side and, with nobody able to go with her, began her own solo chase.
Sadly for Knibb, Duffy and Kingma
were working so well together that the final two laps saw them extending their
advantage, and by the time Duffy was away from the second transition with the
crowd carrying her along on each stride, the win never looked in any doubt.
Kingma, nursing a twisted ankle, was
simply hoping to hang on for as long as possible, and did so bravely for almost
two laps before Knibb passed and then Beth Potter, relentless in her closing
down to move into the bronze spot and keep her chances of a Series podium very
much alive.
“There were good parts and parts that
I can work on,” reflected Knibb. “Congrats to Flora, she crushed here on her
course, and it was so fun to be here. She definitely put up a show and taught
us a lesson on how to dominate a race. There is still a lot of work to do on
our side but hopefully the gap was closer (between her and me) than the last
time we both raced here. And hats off to Beth Potter, she had a great race, I
was so scared of her the whole time, especially on the last part of the run. I
knew she was coming in hot… so I tried to put as much time as I could. you
gotta play the cards that you have!”
“I am pretty pleased today, it is
such a pleasure to be on the podium with two of the best riders of the planet,”
said Beth Potter. “I wish I had gone with (Knibb) but I didn’t believe in
myself enough, maybe I should be a bit more gutsy, but I am still happy with
how the day went. It is another step in the right direction. This has been a
mad season, I am looking forward to Abu Dhabi.
Germany’s Laura Lindemann was still
going strong too as she motored into fourth with a superb 10km run, Taylor
Spivey finishing in fifth. Kingma crossed in sixth, Spain’s Miriam Casillas
Garcia, Italy’s Verena Steinhauser, Brazil’s Luisa Baptista and Bianca Seregni
rounding out the top ten.
Full results can be found here. https://triathlon.org/results/result/2022_world_triathlon_championship_series_bermuda/550765?mc_cid=71f5972d19&mc_eid=6139649918
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Sydney 2000, with a third medal event, the Mixed Team Relay, added to the
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