In cold, grey conditions in Hyde Park Non Stanford, Jodie Stimpson and Natalie Milne were with the pacesetters in the swim. All three made it into a lead group on the bike but a frantic switch from swim to bike by Non Stanford saw her wetsuit fall outside of her clothing box; the result a 15-second penalty which she chose to serve during the run.

 

 

 

At the start of the race just thirteen points separated the world’s top three. However, Anne Haug (GER) had a poor swim that put the German at the very back of the field. Gwen Jorgensen (USA), the slight favourite, then slipped on a wet corner by Buckingham Palace, damaging both her bike and elbows.

 

Back on her bike, Jorgensen was visibly unhappy and later withdrew, leaving Stanford, Stimpson and Milne to stretch the lead of the front group on the bike and further pull away from Haug.

 

Stanford made her decisive move out of the second transition. Her run style imperious, Stanford built enough of a lead to be able to take the 15-second penalty on the final lap and still maintain her advantage over the field. 

 

Meanwhile Stimpson made a valiant effort to finish on the podium, but just missed out in fourth place. However, that was more than enough points to secure second place overall in the ITU World Triathlon Series. Anne Haug worked up the field well enough to finish third in the Series.

 

Stanford said: “It’s actually incredible, it hasn’t really sunk in yet to be honest with you. I am still a bit speechless, I am a bit overwrought, it’s all happened so fast. I am sure once it sinks in, it will be the sweetest moment ever.

 

“I found out on the second lap of the bike, Jodie actually rode up to me and told me, which was a bit of a shock, but very nice of her. The first thing that went through my head was I have done a Jonny Brownlee.”

 

Commenting on the British one-two she said: “It’s amazing - one and two – to share that podium with Jodie is fantastic. Up until this point it’s always been Brownlees one, two, so to have it on the women’s side is fantastic, a great step forward.”

 

As well as earning her the world championship silver, Stimpson’s fourth place was enough to meet the selection criteria for next year’s Commonwealth Games. 

 

She said: “To finish second in the Series, I wouldn’t have said that at the start of the year, so yes, that’s awesome. That’s qualified me for the Commonwealth Games so to get fourth that’s brilliant, I’ve done it and I can concentrate and have a solid winter now.”

 

Commenting on Jorgensen’s crash she said: “It took a couple of laps for us to know it was Gwen. Gwen is an awesome competitor. I would have liked to see her finish the race - how it should have been - and not come off.”

 

Alistair Brownlee and Jonathan Brownlee have a shot at the men’s world title tomorrow starting at 1.30pm. The event is free to view in Hyde Park and live on BBC2.

 

Results

1. Non Stanford, GBR, 2:01:32

2. Aileen Reid, IRL, 2:01:57

3. Emma Moffatt, AUS, 2:02:00

4. Jodie Stimpson, GBR, 2:02:06

22. Vicky Holland, GBR, 2:04:54

29. Katie Hewison, GBR, 2:05:39

34. Natalie Milne, GBR, 2:06:17

DNF Vanessa Raw, GBR

DNF Emma Pallant, GBR