Vicky Holland pushed the ITU world champion, Gwen Jorgensen (USA), all the way to the finishing line at the ITU World Triathlon Hamburg. Holland was delighted with silver and Non Stanford celebrated her return to the top level with bronze.
Sophie Coldwell led the British charge, exiting the water in fourth place at the start of the sprint distance race in Hamburg. Vicky Holland swam well and made it in to the front pack on the bike along with Coldwell and Jorgensen.
Stanford and Jodie Stimpson were in the second bike pack until Stimpson’s was involved in a minor crash that sheared the rear gear mechanism off her bike, making it impossible to continue.
By the final bike lap, Stanford’s group had bridged the gap to the leaders. She and Holland were in excellent positions starting the 5km run.
Holland, Stanford and Sarah True (USA) led for 2.5km until Jorgensen caught them. As Jorgensen pushed the pace, Holland followed. It wasn’t until the final few metres of the race that the world champion got away to claim her eleventh straight ITU World Triathlon Series win.
Holland got closer to beating Jorgensen than anyone has this year, and said: “I thought I had a chance of getting closer maybe than anyone has done this year. She surged a couple of times and I managed to cover those but I knew in the final 1500m I was pretty much on my limit. You can’t under estimate Gwen, she has been unbeaten at the moment.”
She added: “I’m really pleased, particularly with the fact I had a great swim, came out front pack, worked hard on the bike and then a had good run. I had a good all round race today.”
Stanford has been absent from the Series podium since she won the ITU world title in 2013. Injury forced her out, but today signalled a return to form at the right time.
She said: “I thought, you know what, we need to get two British girls on the podium, that gave me an extra kick at the end because it’s been far to long, and to finally share a podium with Vicky is fantastic.”
She continued: “Over the last month training has gone really well, so I was confident in that respect, but it doesn’t always translate into a performance. To finally actually execute on race day is a massive relief.”
Holland now moves up to fifth in the ITU World Triathlon Series rankings despite only having completed three races compared to everyone else in the top eight, who have completed five races. There are two more rounds before the Grand Final in Chicago in September.
Frenchman Vincent Luis won the men's race with Javier Gomez (ESP) second. Mario Mola ran the fastest ever 5km triathlon run split with 13:55 to get himself on to the podium. Gordon Benson was 28th and Mark Buckingham 32nd.
ITU Mixed Relay World Championships take place tomorrow.
Results: ITU World Triathlon Hamburg: 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
Elite women
1. Gwen Jorgensen, USA, 57:08
2. Vicky Holland, GBR, 57:13
3. Non Stanford, GBR, 57:24
47. Sophie Coldwell, GBR, 1:00:40
DNF Jodie Stimpson
Elite men
1. Vincent Luis, FRA, 51:54
2. Javier Gomez Noya, ESP, 51:58
3. Mario Mola, ESP, 52:20
28. Gordon Benson, GBR, 53:38
32. Mark Buckingham, GBR, 53:49
