USA’s Gwen Jorgensen won the Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds after overcoming a big deficit at the start of the run. Huge crowds roared on the athletes, including Vicky Holland, who won bronze.

A very fast swim by Britain’s Jess Learmonth and Lucy Hall broke up the 1500m swim leg and the pair left the first transition in Roundhay Park with Flora Duffy (BER). Those three rode into the city, and maintained a lead for the whole 40km bike section.

Vicky Holland and Jodie Stimpson rode in with the second pack, along with Jorgensen, nearly 90seconds behind the three leaders with the 10km run leg to go.

By the final 2.5km lap of the run, Jorgensen had passed Hall, then Learmonth and finally Duffy. She strode away for the win as Duffy claimed silver and a battle unfolded between Holland and Stimpson for bronze.

Holland was pleased to get onto the podium in her adopted home time, commenting: “To be best of the rest after Gwen and Flora was all I could hope for after coming into T2 today.”

She added: “The crowds were just amazing, I’ve not experienced anything like that since London 2012.”

Jorgensen also praised the crowds, saying: “It’s the first time (here), so I didn’t know what to expect but the crowds were just amazing and they really welcomed us to the city.”

Stimpson’s fourth place strengthens her pursuit of the ITU world title. Only Duffy is ahead of her now. She said: “To win the ITU World Triathlon Series would be fantastic, but it will definitely be a challenge. Flora and Gwen are doing fantastically and it will be tough to get onto that podium at the end of the year, but that’s the goal.”

Non Stanford and Jess Learmonth finished inside the top ten to round out a successful day for the British women.

Results; ITU Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds; 1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km:
1. Gwen Jorgensen, USA, 2:00:33                      
2. Flora Duffy, BER, 2:01:24
3. Vicky Holland, GBR, 2:01:57    
4. Jodie Stimpson, GBR, 2:02:04
9. Non Stanford, GBR, 2:02:37
10. Jessica Learmonth, GBR, 2:03:01
13. Lucy Hall, GBR, 2:03:22

Event website: http://leeds.triathlon.org